John Ryan's Excelsior Bottle Works

On this site in 1852 stood the Excelsior Bottle Works operated by John Ryan for the manufacture of soda water and other carbonated beverages. Ryan's soda, in colorful bottles embossed with his name and location, was known throughout Georgia. His operations expanded to Augusta, Columbus and Atlanta. Today Ryan's bottles are prized by collectors nationwide. John Ryan with his contemporaries, Thomas Maher and Jams Ray, is commemorated for his pioneer contribution to the soda water industry in Georgia and the United States. Ryan retired from business in 1879 and passed away in Savannah on March 23, 1885.