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Nancy Johnson

Women inventor Nancy Johnson
inventor Nancy Johnson - making ice cream easily

Did Nancy Johnson invent ice cream?  No, she just made it easier to make! 

Nancy Johnson, born in 1795, is credited with revolutionizing ice cream making. While ice cream had been enjoyed for thousands of years, it was very difficult to make. In the early 19th century, Johnson invented the "artificial freezer," a hand-cranked device that made it easier and quicker to create ice cream. This invention allowed anyone to make ice cream at home, changing the way people enjoyed this treat. Although she didn't make much money from her invention, Johnson's impact on ice cream production is immeasurable, contributing to the $104 billion ice cream industry we see today.   Students will meet the women inventor, Nancy Johnson at our TIME TRAVELING INVENTORS school assembly!

Learn about other inventors featured in our show: Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington Carver, Grace Hopper and Tim Berners-Lee.

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