8 Cool Facts About Ice Cream

Plus...where to get it for free! 

1. A Presidential Treat

The third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, is credited with popularizing ice cream in America. He even had an 18-step recipe for vanilla ice cream, which is now housed in the Library of Congress.

2. The Ice Cream Sundae

The ice cream sundae was invented in the late 19th century. It was created to bypass laws prohibiting the sale of soda on Sundays. The sundae, minus the soda, became a popular alternative.

3. Astronauts & Ice Cream

Astronaut ice cream, or freeze-dried ice cream, was developed in the 1960s for NASA. While it was created for space missions, it’s more commonly enjoyed on Earth as a novelty treat.

4. The Largest Ice Cream Cone

The largest ice cream cone ever made was over 10 feet tall and weighed more than 2,200 pounds. It was created in Norway in 2015 and contained enough ice cream to fill thousands of regular cones.

5. Brain Freeze! 

An "ice cream headache," also known as brain freeze, occurs when something cold touches the roof of your mouth, causing blood vessels in your head to rapidly constrict and then dilate.

6. Ice Cream and War

During World War II, American soldiers were given ice cream as a morale booster. The U.S. Navy even built a floating ice cream parlor to ensure sailors had access to this comfort food.

7. World Record Consumption

The average American consumes about 23 pounds of ice cream annually, making the United States the largest consumer of ice cream in the world.

8. National Ice Cream Month

July is celebrated as National Ice Cream Month in the United States. President Ronald Reagan declared it in 1984, recognizing the treat's popularity and enjoyment. National Ice Cream Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in July. 

Free Ice Cream?

Here are some U.S chains that give away free or cheap ice cream on National Ice Cream Day! 

Friendly's has 89 cent cones. 

Some Dippin' Dots locations are giving away free cups. 

Dairy Queen is giving away free Dilly Bars. 

And many more – check with your local ice cream place! 

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Let us Know in the Comments!