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Ice cream history

Sit down and let
us tell you a story

It’s pretty tasty

5th century B.C.

Once upon a time

Ancient Greeks enjoy a dessert similar to ice cream. And this is where our story begins!

1300s

Ice cream, ho!

Marco Polo brings an early form of ice cream to Europe. We imagine the popular pool game started with ice cream-craving fans searching in the night for Marco! (Polo!)

1700s

Ooo, fancy!

Ice Cream is introduced to America as a delicacy enjoyed by high society due to its expensive ingredients and lack of available refrigerators.

1776

Open for business!

America's first ice cream parlor opens its doors in New York. And you thought lines were bad today...

1840s

A labor of love!

Now that's what we call mass production. The ice cream churn is invented, and now we can make ice cream by the bucket!

1851

First ice cream plant

Doors open to one of the sweetest buildings ever - the very first ice cream plant.

1880s

What a scoop

Get your fixin's and grab your bowls! The ice cream sundae is born.

1904

Hello Drumstick!

Rumor has it, the waffle cone makes its debut at the world's fair in St. Louis, Mo. after an ice cream vendor ran out of bowls. Good thing the waffle maker stepped in to help!

1929

Things got rocky

William Dreyer and Joseph Edy create Rocky Road ice cream! It joins vanilla, chocolate and strawberry as most widely available flavors.

1960 (ish)

Häagen-Dazs

William Dreyer and Joseph Edy create Rocky Road ice cream! It joins vanilla, chocolate and strawberry as most widely available flavors.

1984

Start the fireworks

July is declared National Ice Cream Month, but you can still enjoy it all year long!

Today

For the love of ice cream

90% of freezers in the USA are chilling ice cream, making it the best selling treat in America next to cookies! Make sure your freezer does, too!

There’s more to see this way!