Frank Epperson invented the frozen fruit bar later marketed as the Popsicle.
According to the company’s origin story, Epperson left a mixture of powdered soda, water and a stirring stick outside overnight in San Francisco in 1905. The mixture froze around the stick, creating what he called the “Epsicle.” He was 11 years old at the time.
Epperson began selling the frozen treats much later, at fairs and amusement parks. In 1923 he applied for a patent, and the product was eventually marketed as the Popsicle. The name was reportedly inspired by his children, who called the treat a “Pop’s ’icle.”
The Popsicle is a frozen fruit-flavored confection, not technically ice cream because it contains no dairy base. It is nevertheless part of the broader history of frozen desserts. The brand later introduced many varieties, including twin-stick versions that could be separated and shared.