St. Stephen's supposed claim to fame is that it's the home of the chocolate bar: the place someone first thought to wrap chocolate pieces in foil and sell them individually, in 1910. Chocolate is still big around here -- not as big as it is in Hershey, Pennsylvania, but still a huge part of the local psyche and economy. The Ganong brothers began selling chocolate from a general store here in 1873, and from there an empire was built, employing up to 700 workers by the 1930s. This was the first place to package chocolates in heart-shaped boxes for Valentine's Day, and it still makes 30% of all Canadian Valentine chocolates. The modern plant on the outskirts of town isn't open to the public, but this museum opened in 1999 is in one of the company's original factories, a large brick structure on the main drag. Exhibits explain about 19th-century chocolate boxes; there are interactive multimedia displays about the candymaking; and the kids can play games like "Guess the Center" (I always get them wrong). One real highlight here is watching the expert hand-dippers make chocolates the old-fashioned way -- samples are available afterward. Need more? Ganong's Chocolatier, an old-fashioned candy shop, is located in the storefront adjacent to the museum -- pick up some discounted bags of factory seconds. There's also a "Heritage Chocolate Walk" offered, which combines a factory tour with a walk through downtown's historic areas. The museum was to unveil a new expansion in 2009; plan to spend an hour or more here if you're coming.
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