Sign for Birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae.

Birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae

In 1881, George Hallauer asked Ed Berner, owner of a soda fountain, to top his dish of ice cream with chocolate sauce, hitherto used only for ice cream sodas. It became a popular concoction, but was only sold on Sundays. One day, a little girl asked for one, saying they could pretend it was Sunday. Voila -- sundae (the spelling is attributed to a mistranscription on the check).

In 1973 the State Historical Society dedicated a marker in a downtown park commemorating the first ice cream sundae, and city limits billboards still toot the sundae horn. Berner's original soda fountain can be seen in Two Rivers sharing space with a historical museum. Every July, the town celebrates Ice Cream Sundae Thursday.

There are several rival "first sundae" claimants: Buffalo, NY; Ithaca, NY; Evanston, IL; Plainfield, IL; Norfolk, VA; and Manitowoc, WI. Two Rivers is the only one endorsed by the National Register of Historic Places.

Birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae

Washington House Museum

Address:: 1622 Jefferson St., Two Rivers, WI
Directions:: Washington House Museum. On the west side of Jefferson St. just north of 16th St.
Phone:: 920-793-2490

Nearby Offbeat Places

World's First Gas-Powered Residential Clothes Dryer, Two Rivers, WI - < 1 mi.
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Chief Wawatam Engine and Submarine, Manitowac, WI - 6 mi.
In the region: 9/11 World Trade Center Memorial, Green Bay, WI - 34 mi.

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June 20, 2013