Many people out there can remember a specific bright pink, fun part of their childhood bathtime rituals: Mr. Bubble. This iconic bubble bath from the 1960s has transcended generations and is still the number one selling bubble bath in the United States — and is one of the top-selling in the world. What many people don’t know is that it was created right here in the Peace Garden State by a North Dakotan, and its effects still linger to this day.

Mr. Bubble is one of the most iconic brands of bubble baths in not just the United States, but the world. Originally invented in 1961 by Harold Schafer in North Dakota, it’s been delighting kids and adults for decades.

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Today, it’s still ubiquitous throughout American family homes. Schafer’s company founded in our beautiful state, the Gold Seal Company, became a household name through the 20th century.

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Mr. Bubble is still proudly made in the US, but you’ll find it on shelves all around the world, and it all started in North Dakota. According to AC Nielsen data, it is still the top-selling bubble bath brand.

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Mr. Bubble even got a designated day in North Dakota. On the product’s 50th birthday, state officials declared that day “Mr. Bubble Day” in ND and even hosted a birthday party for him at the state capitol.

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Mr. Bubble is more than just something invented in North Dakota. We have Medora’s booming popularity to thank in part from Harold Schafer and the success of his fun bath time product. He invested heavily in promoting Medora as a tourist destination and also into the Medora Musical that has made it so famous. There is a museum in Medora dedicated to him and the brand.

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Many people fondly remember Mr. Bubble from their childhood and still use it today for their own children. It’s an iconic brand that will go down in history — and North Dakota was where it all began.

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Do you remember using Mr. Bubble as a kid or still use it today? Find out about more things that began in North Dakota — you might be surprised by some of them!

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Is there somewhere, someplace, or something in North Dakota we haven’t covered yet that you think we should? We’d love to hear about it!

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Address: North Dakota, USA