Joliet in Will County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Original Dairy Queen Store

Photographed By Jason Voigt, September 30, 2020

1. Original Dairy Queen Store Marker

Inscription. On this site and in this building, erected ca. 1895, the world's first Dairy Queen store opened on June 22, 1940.

Soft serve ice cream was unknown before its inception in Kankakee, Illinois in 1938 by John Fremont "Grandpa" McCullough (1871-1963), and his son Alex McCullough. They convinced friend and customer Sherwood D. ("Sherb") Noble to offer the product in his ice cream store in Kankakee. The new treat was extremely popular and Noble and the McCulloughs went on to open the first Dairy Queen store right here. Since that humble beginning in 1940, the Dairy Queen system has grown to more than 5,900 locations in the United States, Canada and 17 additional countries around the world.

Erected 2011.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is June 22, 1940.

Location. 41° 32.005′ N, 88° 4.919′ W. Marker is in Joliet, Illinois, in Will County. Marker is at the intersection of North Chicago Street (Illinois Route 53) and Ohio Street, on the right when traveling south on North Chicago Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 N Chicago St, Joliet IL 60432, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jackson Street Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ruby Street Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away);

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George Kiser, Iron Works laborer (approx. ¼ mile away); Forging a City of Steel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Route 66 Visitors Center (approx. 0.3 miles away); Joliet, Illinois (approx. 0.3 miles away); Louis Joliet Renaissance Center (approx. 0.3 miles away); Public Service Building (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Joliet.

Also see . . .
1. Dairy Queen on Wikipedia. Wiki page for the Dairy Queen restaurant chain, with history as well as the foods it offers. There are over 6,800 locations globally, with around 4,455 in the United States. (Submitted on September 30, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

2. Dairy Queen. Official website for the fast-food chain. (Submitted on September 30, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed By Jason Voigt, September 30, 2020

2. Original Dairy Queen Store Marker

Marker is a sidewalk plaque

Photographed By Jason Voigt, September 30, 2020

3. Original Dairy Queen Store Marker

On the building

Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 492 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.