Fact Finder - Food and Drink

Fact
The Invention of the Popsicle
Category
Food and Drink
Subcategory
Everyday Foods
Country
United States
Description
In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson of San Francisco accidentally created the first Popsicle. He had mixed some powdered soda and water in a cup and left it on his porch overnight with the stirring stick still inside. The night was unusually cold, and the mixture froze solid. In the morning, Epperson pulled the frozen treat out by the stick and licked it. He originally named it the 'Epsicle.' Years later, in 1923, he patented the idea, but his children insisted on calling it 'Pop's 'Sicle,' which led to the name we know today. During the Great Depression, the company introduced the twin-stick Popsicle for five cents, allowing two children to share a single treat for a nickel.