Cheerios isn’t just one of the early brands from General Mills. When it comes to cereal, it's also the most successful brand. Seventy years after its launch, one in every eight boxes of cereal sold in America is a box of "o's."

What started as American’s first ready-to-eat oat cereal has become a mainstay on millions of breakfast tables.

Of course, there have been milestones throughout its 70 years, many of them memorable.

The birth of a legend
Originally called Cheerioats, the tasty, ready-to-eat oat cereal, launches. It's 1941. The “puffing gun” technology – used to create Kix cereal in 1937 – is used to make Cheerios.

Little dough balls are heated to high temperatures and shot out of a gun – the puffing gun – at hundreds of miles per hour in order to make the perfect “o.”

More than 500 formulas are tested over three-and-a-half years, and more than 10 shapes and sizes are developed before researchers arrive at the perfect combination.

A year later, Cheeri O’Leary, known as the “Cheerioats Girl,” appears in both advertising and on packaging.

Four years after its debut, Cheerioats changes its name to Cheerios.

Since then, Cheerios has had many highlights, including:.

1941
The first slogan for Cheerioats is “The Breakfast Food You’ve Always Wanted,” and 1.8 million cases are sold the first year. Also in 1941, Oneida Community silverware is offered as the brand’s first premium, and the Lone Ranger “Defender Silver Bullet” and “Flashlight Pistol” are soon to follow.

1952
“Go Power” first appears as the advertising tagline, helping Cheerios get recognition as a great way to get energy to start the day.

1961
Cheerios challenges kids to “Land Spacemen on the Moon” with a moon rocket kit premium, introduced just after the Russians had launched the first man into orbit. The cereal introduces another premium – a Bullwinkle electric quiz game.

1969
America’s moon landing is commemorated by Cheerios’ offer of a Rand McNally Moon Globe illustrated with actual moon photos. Bullwinkle continues to be popular, and Cheerios responds with a Bullwinkle Breakfast set premium.

1970
The Harlem Globetrotters basketball team is featured on the package.

1979
Honey Nut Cheerios is introduced, along with its own mascot, a friendly bee.

1982
"We Make Cheerios Low in Sugar – Kids Made Cheerios Number One” is the advertising slogan for the next six years.

1998
Cheerios launches Cheerios racing by sponsoring NASCAR driver Johnny Benson Jr. in the No. 26 Cheerios Racing Ford Taurus.

1999
Cheerios becomes the first leading cold cereal to be clinically proven to lower cholesterol as part of a healthy, low-fat diet.

2000
Cheerios introduces Millenios to celebrate the new millennium – “Y2K.” The once-in-a-lifetime cereal is available late 1999 through early 2000.

The Honey Nut Cheerios bee finally gets a name after nearly two decades without one. After a nationwide kid’s contest to name the bee, the popular character is called “BuzzBee,” (read more) and makes his first appearance as a balloon in the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day Parade in November.

2002
Cheerios launches “Spoonfuls of Stories,” a commitment to childhood literacy. Today, after distributing nearly 50 million children’s books, the program is still going strong. (Read more)

2003
The launch of Berry Burst Cheerios in three flavors – Strawberry, Triple Berry and Strawberry Banana – is among the most successful launches in General Mills history.

2009
In October, sales of Honey Nut Cheerios vault over the original “yellow box” Cheerios for the first time, and in 2011, the product remains in the top spot.

2011
One of every eight boxes of cereal sold in America has a Cheerios label.

For more Cheerios history, visit Cheerios.com.