Marvin Stone

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Marvin C. Stone was the inventor of the modern drinking straw. He lived in Washington DC most of his life, until his death in 1898.

The first drinking straws were made of dry, hollow, rye grass. Stone, who worked in a factory that made paper cigarette holders, did not like this design because it made beverages taste like grass. As an alternative, on January 3, 1888, he got a piece of paper from his factory. He wrapped it around a pencil. He coated it with wax so it would not leak or get waterlogged.

Since Marvin Stone's work on the drinking straw, it has been improved even more. Now, they are made of plastic, and there are at least 11 different types. These include bendy straws, candy straws, and spoon straws.