9 fun facts about ice cream

Posted on Jan 07, 2022

Ice Cream Facts:

1. NYC  

The first ice cream parlor opened in the United States in 1776 in New York City.

2. World War Two 

Towards the end of World War Two, the US Navy repurposed a refrigerated concrete barge to make ice cream for troops. The barge could hold 2000 gallons of ice cream and made 10 gallons every 7 minutes. After the war ended, the popularity of ice cream soared partially due to the troops’ love of ice cream. 

3. National Ice Cream Month

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared July as National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream day is the third Sunday of July. Reagan realized that ice cream is loved by over 90% of the US population and is quoted saying that citizens should hold “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

4. World’s Largest Sundae

The largest ice cream sundae created in July 1988 in Alberta, Canada weighed over 54,000 lbs., the sundae had over 10,000 pounds in toppings.

5. Missouri State Dessert

Missouri’s state dessert is the ice cream cone. The cone was created in St. Louis at the 1904 world’s fair. 

6. Oldest Ice Cream Recipe

The first known ice cream recipe was written in 1665 in France.

7. American Ice Cream Consumption

Americans consume on average 5 ½ gallons of ice cream every year.

8. George Washington

George Washington loved ice cream so much that he spent over $200 ($4950 adjusted for inflation) one summer on ice cream. He was the first president to enjoy ice cream.

9. Odd Laws

In Alabama, it is illegal to carry an ice cream cone in your back pocket. This silly law was created because if a horse followed you home you got to keep it and it wasn’t considered theft, and horses love ice cream.