True Treats Historic Candy

For history lovers with a sweet tooth, True Treats Historic Candy in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, is a must-visit. Open since 2010, this destination sells historic treats, some of which have their roots in the distant past. Given its location less than 2 miles from Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park, it is the perfect addition to a day filled with Civil War history. 

The shop isn’t your average candy store packed with everyday brands. Instead, it claims the title of being the only research-based candy store in the world. Owner and founder Susan Benjamin digs into the history of the treats that fill her shelves, ensuring they are true to their time. The process typically begins with Susan’s scholarly research into historic periods before tracing a specific candy’s origins using original documentation. 

Visitors to the 1840s red-brick building find themselves following a timeline of candy history, beginning with prehistory items like loose-leaf teas that were often used as medicine. As time progresses, candy develops from the sugar plums, Turkish delight and rock candy of the colonial era to penny-candy favorites like pulled creams and saltwater taffy. 

Some of the most popular items in the store are the time-capsule collections, which range from the Revolutionary War Supply Tent Candy Timeline to the Civil War Commissary in a Box to the World War Mess Kit Candy box. These candy collections highlight the different themes of the era and the candies that may have been enjoyed then. The store also stocks more well-known items from the mid-20th century, such as bubblegum cigars and Pops Rocks.

Items are labeled with their well-researched history, so not only do customers get a taste of the past, but they also get a lesson about it. 144 High St., Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 25425, 304/461-4714, truetreatscandy.com