Exploring the Birthplace of the Banana Split in Latrobe

A collage of four images from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, birthplace of the banana split, showing a large banana split sculpture beside a historical marker, a black and white view of Strickler's Drug Store interior with a soda fountain and customers, a close-up of a classic banana split with whipped cream and cherries in a glass dish, and a close-up of the blue and gold Pennsylvania historical marker detailing the 1904 creation of the banana split by David Strickler.

In 1904, Latrobe, Pennsylvania became the birthplace of a beloved American dessert: the banana split.

A large concrete banana split sculpture with three scoops of ice cream topped with chocolate, strawberry, and pineapple sauces, along with a cherry on top, sitting in a grey dish in front of a tan brick building in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, birthplace of the banana split, with a black bench nearby and a plaque on the base of the sculpture detailing its history.

A young apprentice pharmacist named David Strickler, working at Tassell Pharmacy, came up with this ice cream treat.

A sepia-toned vintage portrait of a young man in a dark suit, vest, white shirt, and bow tie with neatly combed hair, shown inside an oval frame, identified as David Strickler of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the pharmacist apprentice credited with inventing the banana split in 1904.

As a 23-year-old soda fountain worker, Strickler liked testing new ice cream combinations to attract customers looking for something different.

A black and white photo of the interior of Strickler's Drug Store in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, showing a checkered floor, a soda fountain counter with stools and customers, a server behind the counter near a Borden's ice cream sign, and rows of shelves filled with products, capturing the historic atmosphere of the birthplace of the banana split.

His idea of slicing a banana lengthwise and topping it with scoops of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream quickly became popular with local students at nearby Saint Vincent College.

A classic banana split served in a clear glass boat-shaped dish with a peeled banana on each side, topped with scoops of strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla ice cream, drizzled with chocolate syrup, covered with whipped cream, sprinkled with chopped nuts, and finished with a maraschino cherry on top of each scoop, celebrating the dessert invented in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

To complete the treat, he added whipped cream, chocolate and strawberry syrups, chopped nuts, and a cherry on top.

A large concrete banana split sculpture featuring scoops of strawberry, chocolate, and pineapple-topped ice cream with a cherry on top, displayed in a grey dish next to a black metal bench and a blue Pennsylvania historical marker sign explaining the creation of the first banana split in Latrobe in 1904, all set on a paved walkway beside a tan brick building and green shrubbery.

The banana split’s popularity soon spread across the country, becoming a staple of American dessert culture.

A classic banana split served in a clear glass boat-shaped dish with a peeled banana on each side, topped with scoops of strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla ice cream, drizzled with chocolate syrup, covered with whipped cream, sprinkled with chopped nuts, and finished with a maraschino cherry on top of each scoop, celebrating the dessert invented in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Strickler later purchased the pharmacy where he invented the banana split.

A black and white photo showing the exterior of Strickler's Drug Store in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, with a large vertical sign reading "Strickler's Drugs" and bold "Prescriptions" lettering above the entrance, while a delivery car with promotional signage for prescriptions, health needs, and photographic supplies is parked in front, celebrating the location known as the birthplace of the banana split.

He remained a well-known figure in Latrobe until his passing in 1971 at the age of 90.

A streetscape view in Latrobe, Pennsylvania showing the site of the former Strickler's Drug Store where the banana split was created, featuring a large banana split sculpture with strawberry, chocolate, and pineapple scoops next to a Pennsylvania historical marker, a black bench, a tan brick building with a brown metal roof, and a clear blue sky with scattered clouds above.

Today, a Pennsylvania state historical marker and a concrete banana split monument stand on the site where Tassell Pharmacy once operated.

A close-up view of a blue and gold Pennsylvania historical marker in Latrobe explaining that the first documented banana split was created there in 1904 by apprentice pharmacist David Strickler, describing how bananas became widely available in the late 1800s and how Strickler designed the boat-shaped dish for serving the dessert, with leafy green bushes and a sidewalk in the background.

Each August, Latrobe celebrates its claim to fame with the Great American Banana Split Celebration, honoring the sweet history that began in this small Pennsylvania town.

A colorful logo for the Great American Banana Split Celebration in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, featuring a cartoon-style banana split with a cherry on top above bold red, yellow, and blue lettering promoting the annual festival in the birthplace of the banana split.

If you want to visit this “sweet” roadside attraction and historical marker yourself, you’ll find it at 801 Ligonier Street, Latrobe, PA 15650.


Nearby Attractions

Exploring Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in Latrobe describes a road trip through Latrobe that explores 4 key locations in Fred Rogers’ hometown tied to his personal and professional journey.

Collage of four images taken in Latrobe, Pennsylvania honoring Fred Rogers, including a Pennsylvania historical marker, a display of his iconic sweaters and shoes, original puppets from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” and a bronze statue of Rogers seated on a bench in his hometown where he was born and is buried.

27 Must-See Attractions in Westmoreland County is your guide to even more great things to see and do near Latrobe.

A collection of four photos depicting attractions in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Top left: A large historic cannon displayed outside with the Fort Ligonier museum entrance in the background. Top right: A whimsical, large book-shaped mural with a fairy tale theme, inviting visitors to walk through to a park. Bottom left: A person stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking a stunning autumn forest vista. Bottom right: A lineup of colorful kayaks and canoes on the grassy shore of a tranquil lake with a dock in the background.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.