The History and Hidden Meaning of the Dairy Queen Logo

It’s hard to resist a trip to Dairy Queen. Whether you’re tempted to pick up a box of Dilly Bars, hoping to see a Blizzard turned upside down or ready to order a ’60s Jack & Jill Sundae, there’s a treat for everyone. Yum! Not to mention, DQ’s classic chicken strip baskets, burgers and even chili cheese dogs. Don’t forget the fries and onion rings!

With so many great favorites, the Dairy Queen logo is as recognizable as the Starbucks logo. And it can be spotted in just about any town. But is it just a logo? Like the 7-Eleven logo and the Baskin Robbins logo, there’s actually a meaning behind it.

History of Dairy Queen

The first Dairy Queen opened in Joliet, Illinois in 1940 with a small soft serve menu. Items like shakes, banana splits and Dilly Bars followed soon after. By 1957, DQ started offering hot food in addition to cold treats. In the ’50s, the logo was very simple. It used bold text on a blue background, spelling out ‘Dairy Queen.’ On some signage and packaging, a large soft-serve cone would be added at the end.

Logos Through the Years

2000s America - Dairy Queen Logo on Building, Lewiston, Idaho 2004HUM IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES