Toll House Inn

An article about the Toll House Inn and its historical significance

Toll House Inn

The sign marking the historical site of the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts.

The Toll House Inn was a historic inn located in Whitman, Massachusetts. It is famously known as the birthplace of the chocolate chip cookie. The inn was established in the 1930s and became a popular restaurant and roadside stop.

History

The Toll House Inn was built in 1709 and served as a toll house where travelers would pay a fee to use the road. In 1930, it was purchased by Ruth Graves Wakefield and her husband Kenneth. Ruth Wakefield was a dietitian and food lecturer who turned the inn into a successful restaurant.

Invention of the Chocolate Chip Cookie

In 1938, Ruth Wakefield invented the chocolate chip cookie at the Toll House Inn. The story goes that she was attempting to make a chocolate dessert and decided to add chopped up bits of a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar into a cookie. The result was the first chocolate chip cookie, which she called "Toll House Crunch Cookies."

The recipe became extremely popular, and Nestlé began to produce chocolate chips specifically for baking. In exchange for the right to print the recipe on their packaging, Nestlé provided Ruth Wakefield with a lifetime supply of chocolate.

Cultural Impact

The Toll House Inn and its chocolate chip cookie recipe have had a lasting impact on American culture. The chocolate chip cookie is now a staple in American households and is enjoyed worldwide. The original recipe is still printed on Nestlé Toll House chocolate chip packaging.

Closure and Legacy

The Toll House Inn was destroyed by a fire in 1984, but its legacy lives on through the famous cookie recipe. The site of the inn is marked by a historical sign in Whitman, Massachusetts, commemorating its significance.

Related pages

• Chocolate chip cookie
• Ruth Graves Wakefield
• Nestlé