The Birthplace of the Ice Cream Sundae
On April 3, 1892, Chester C. Platt — owner of Platt & Colt Pharmacy in downtown Ithaca — served Reverend John M. Scott a bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with cherry syrup and a candied cherry. They called it the "Cherry Sunday."
Two days later, on April 5, 1892, the Cherry Sunday was advertised in the Ithaca Daily Journal. That newspaper advertisement is the oldest primary-source evidence of the ice cream sundae anywhere in the world.
Within weeks, variations appeared: Strawberry Sundays, Chocolate Sundays. By 1894, Platt attempted to trademark the term. What started as one pharmacist's experiment became a national sensation — and eventually, one of America's most iconic desserts.
The Sundae Wars
Ithaca isn't the only city that claims the sundae. Two Rivers, Wisconsin points to an 1881 origin story, and several other towns have their own versions. But here's the difference: Ithaca's claim is backed by documented, contemporaneous evidence — a newspaper advertisement published days after the event, supported by ledger books, an affidavit from a witness, and a patent letter.
The History Center in Tompkins County maintains the "Ithaca Sundae Research Collection," which includes these primary-source materials. A sundae-shaped plaque on the Ithaca Commons marks the original pharmacy site where Chester Platt served that first Cherry Sunday.
Why the Sundae Showdown?
The Sundae Showdown connects one of America's favorite treats to its documented roots — right here in Ithaca. Every recipe in the competition must include the three components Chester Platt combined in 1892: an ice cream base, a sauce or drizzle, and a garnish.
This event is a fundraiser for The History Center in Tompkins County, which serves as the custodian of over 200,000 items of local and regional significance. Each year, The History Center connects more than 15,000 people to their shared past through archives, a research library, an exhibit hall, and public programming. All proceeds from the Sundae Showdown support this mission.
Learn more at thehistorycenter.net.