24447 County S, Cadott, WI, 54727, United States
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
715 Broughton Drive, Sheboygan, WI, 53081, United States
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E5888 County Highway B, Manawa, WI, 54949, United States
12550 120th Avenue, Kenosha, WI, 53142, United States
225 Edward Street, Chippewa Falls, WI, 54729, United States
75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc, WI, 54220, United States
2305 Lance Drive, Twin Lakes, WI, 53181, United States
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
100 N. Franklin Street, Port Washington, WI, 53074, United States
525 W. 20th Avenue, Oshkosh, WI, 54902, United States
139 S. Central Avenue, Marshfield, WI, 54449, United States
2272 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
640 S. 84th Street, West Allis, WI, 53214, United States
1 N. Bridge Street, Chippewa Falls, WI, 54729, United States
1000 Northview Road, Waukesha, WI, 53188, United States
209 S. Main Street, Potosi, WI, 53820, United States
331 Jefferson Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI, 54729, United States
402 Pine Street, Warrens, WI, 54666, United States
Historic Washington House Museum
Tags: home of, Hwy 147, Hwy 310, Hwy 42, ice cream sundae, invented, museum, Two Rivers
Built as an immigrant hotel and saloon in the 1850s, the Historic Washington House lays claim to inventing the ice cream sundae. Around 1881, they dished up ice cream and chocolate sauce, but only in sodas. One customer started asking for a dish of ice cream topped with the sauce and they began selling it that way, but only on Sundays. Shortly thereafter, a 10-year-old girl requested a dish of ice cream with “that stuff on top” on a different day of the week, suggesting they could “pretend” it was Sunday. Between that and the long canoe-shaped dishes in which the ice cream was served being known as “sundae dishes,” the ice cream sundae was born.
Today, the Washington House serves up sundaes but also history, with seven rooms and an old ballroom to explore, filled with items of interest from military to 19th century doctors’ and dentists’ offices to historic knick-knacks. The building itself is well-preserved and even has its original decorative tin ceiling.
The ice cream parlor is a must of course, so order one up and dig in! There are 18 different sundae flavors to choose from. The Washington House is open seven days a week from 9am until 5pm (summer hours ’til 9pm). You’ll find it one block east of Highway 42 in downtown Two Rivers, right near the ends of Highways 147 and 310.
Address:
1622 Jefferson Street
Two Rivers, WI 54241
(920) 793-2490
Website