PrintThe History of the Hamburger
When you look into the history of hamburgers in the U.S., you'll find sources proclaiming the inventor to be (from left) Louis Lassen, "Hamburger Charlie" Nagreen, or the Menches Brothers.
The history of the hamburger is truly a story that has been run through the meat grinder. Some sources say it began with the Mongols, who stashed raw beef under their saddles as they waged their campaign to conquer the known world. After time spent sandwiched between the asses of man and beast, the beef became tender enough to eat raw—certainly a boon to swift-moving riders not keen to dismount.
It is said, then, that the Mongols, under Kublai Khan later brought it to Russia, which turned it into the dish we know as steak tartare.
Several years later, as global trade picked up, seafarers brought this idea back to the port city of Hamburg, Germany, where the Deutschvolk decided to mold it into a steak shape and add heat to the equation, making something that, outside of Hamburg, was referred to as "Hamburg steak."
Of course, as it's been pointed out on the comments on this site and in John T. Edge's book Hamburgers & Fries, that's wishful thinking. As Mr. Edge writes, "The history of proletarian dishes like hamburgers is rarely explained by a linear progression of events."
But enough fishing in European and Asian waters; let's cut bait here. Somehow ground beef gets to America. Somehow it's put on a bun. But by whom? Surely the historical record becomes more clear once we cross to these shores.
It doesn't. There are currently three major claims staked on the confusing and contradictory map of American hamburger history. Each has its adherents and detractors. They are:
Louis' Lunch: This New Haven, Connecticut, burger joint claims to have invented our favorite lunchtime (and dinnertime) meal in 1900. From its website: "One day in the year 1900 a man dashed into a small New Haven luncheonette and asked for a quick meal that he could eat on the run. Louis Lassen, the establishment's owner, hurriedly sandwiched a broiled beef patty between two slices of bread and sen the customer on his way, so the story goes, with America's first hamburger."
"Hamburger Charlie" Nagreen: It's said that he started selling meatballs at the age of 15 at the summer fair in Seymour, Wisconsin. But, homeofthehamburger.org says, "Charlie was a resourceful young man with an outgoing personality. After not experiencing much success selling the meatballs, he had an idea and located some bread. He realized people could take this meal with them if he simply smashed the meat together between two pieces of bread. He called it a "hamburger" and yes, in 1885 the burger was born at the fair in Seymour, Wisconsin."
Menches Brothers: The brothers' descendents, who now operate a small chain in Ohio called, not surprisingly, Menches Bros. claim that their great-grandfather and his brother (Charles and Frank, respectively) invented the dish at an 1885 fair in Hamburg, New York. The brothers originally sold sausages but ran out and were forced to use ground beef, which at the time was considered declassé. John Menches, in a Businessweek story, says, "Faced with nothing to sell at all, they fried [the ground beef] up, but it was too bland. My grandfather decided to put coffee, brown sugar, and some other household ingredients in it and cooked up the sandwich. My great-uncle Frank served the first sandwich, a gentleman tasted it and said, 'What do you call it?' Uncle Frank didn't really know what to call it, so he looked up and saw the banner for the Hamburg fair and said, 'This is the hamburger.' "
So who invented the hamburger? Take your pick. We're too ground down at this point to choose.
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54 Comments:
I love hamburgers!!!
Hamburger forest ernst at 4:24PM on 09/28/05
BAH!
Hamburger gimli at 11:38AM on 01/17/06
i love hambuger! ya! yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hamburger jeff at 10:55AM on 02/06/06
Thanks. I'm actually writing a paper on history of hamburgers! :) This site came in handy.
Hamburger Laura at 5:18AM on 01/16/07
The concept of grinded meat between two buns of bread was originally invented by the Roman army, it was a simple way of eating and marching at the same time.
Hamburger Bjorn Magnusson at 2:48PM on 01/16/07
Wonder who invented the hamburger? Just follow the patents & they'll lead you to New Haven, CT in the late 1880's not anywhere else. My Great Uncle Luigi Pieragostini modified an earlier broiler patent issued to William Perkins in 1889 for a gridiron #408,136. Luigi's broiler was designed to cook the meat vertically so both sides could cook at the same time saving time & counter space too. His patent was issued in 1939 #2,148,879 & are still in use today at Louis' Lunch. Both men worked at the New Haven Wire Goods Co. in New Haven.
Hamburger Thomas Pieragostini at 4:21AM on 01/19/07
Hamburger is copied from Chinese,may have origin from Mongol, and Korea especially where Pork is chopped and stuffed in dough and cooked either in stemer or oven. American call Pork as Ham...(don't know why is called last suffixe "burger") Still Chinese and Korean make it'a bond shape, inside is chopped pork; in Korea it is mixed with vegetables and with beef also. When one Culture copy another Race Culture, one should not give his or her name, like Julia Child who named Julian Cut.
Hamburger Ki Zhang at 12:58AM on 02/06/07
In Athens, Texas, Fletcher Davis sold burgers from a luncheonette in the late 1800s.
Hamburger Anna at 12:59AM on 02/06/07
We enjoy the original hamburgers served at the Menches Brothers restaurant in our neighborhood. I vote for them.
Hamburger Liz at 1:18AM on 02/06/07
The ORIGINAL hamburger was definitely BORN at Louis Lunch in New Haven, CT. Although that IS the best Hamburger you can find in the US, there is also a small place in Meriden, CT where you can get the best STEAMED cheesburger in the world. It was invented here and TED'S Restaurant will not be a disapointment, even if you come from miles away!
Hamburger Ron Catucci at 1:29AM on 02/06/07
I remember Terry Jones (of Monty Python) having a series about ancient Rome. In that he said the ancient Romans ate at something like our fast food restarants, and they served grilled ground beef patties on bread
Hamburger Alex McGee at 1:47AM on 02/06/07
The Hamburger was first served in Hamburg Germany in Bars+it was called in german Frigedelle.It sometimes was beef and pork
Hamburger Dieter Karmineke at 2:00AM on 02/06/07
I work in New Haven a block from Louis' Lunch and was told when I was a kid by my Grand Father that Louis' Lunch IS and WAS the Original . They do have a GREAT Burger !!!
Hamburger David Reynolds at 2:06AM on 02/06/07
One more comment about the HAMBURGER!!!!!! The Hamburger was and still is called a Frigedelle. The name comes from a old schippname maby a saile shipp the calledA FRIGGE.I still call it a Frigedelle when i go home and you know were that would be.Guten appetit
Hamburger Dieter Karmineke at 2:21AM on 02/06/07
It seems highly unlikely that the hamburger originated from so many different places all around the same 5 year period... Somebody did it first and Somebody has proof and Louis lunch seems the most likely contestant but wisconsin and menches bros both predate their claims..... i think the owners should all battle it out in a UFC tournament
Hamburger Garrett at 4:20AM on 02/06/07
connecticut sounds more convincing Hold the rickle hold the lettuce!!!!
Hamburger raul ortiz at 8:22AM on 02/06/07
hold the pickle hold the lettuce special orders don't affect us
Hamburger raul ortiz at 8:25AM on 02/06/07
Louis lunch IS THE ORIGINAL!!! I grew up in new haven and IT IS THE BEST!!!!!EVER!!!!! They are the original.....no other can beat louis lunch!!!!!!!
Hamburger Suzy at 11:55AM on 02/06/07
Connecticut brought lots of things to Texas and they should just get over it. Wasn't it a Mr. Austin born in Durham, Ct who brought settlers to Texas? The Paper trail shows it was New Haven with U.S. Pat. #'s issued for the broiler used for cooking the burgers. Where's the beef in the other claims? As stated in one of the above posts, try Ted's in Meriden, CT. for a great Steamed Cheeseburger!
Hamburger John at 12:09PM on 02/06/07
Do the other States claiming to have served "American" hamburger's before 1900 have any evidence to show how they prepared & cooked the hamburgers? Which stove or broiler did they use? Louis' Lunch still uses the same broilers invented & patented locally in New Haven & the same vertical stoves made by Bridge & Beach in 1898. Where's the evidence to back up these other claims?
Hamburger Tom Pieragostini at 12:37AM on 02/07/07
They probably all invented the hamburger at around the same time. The Menches brothers story probably is what named it. As far as patents trust me on this companys and people that are first to patent are not always the first to have actually made the product. They are the ones with lawyers.
Hamburger Dan at 2:28AM on 02/07/07
My stove was made in 1995. That doesn't mean the food I cook on it wasn't invented before then...so that argument doesn't hold any water. Look no further than the town that made the biggest hamburger ever, and holds an annual burger festival....Seymour, WI.
Hamburger Anonymous at 2:32AM on 02/07/07
In the 1950's I visted in a small town in Indiana and was told a history of the hamburger. I think the date pre-dates these claims. I will contact people there and get the names and details. It was one of James Dean's favorite foods and he was from and is buried in Fairmount, Indiana.
Hamburger Jim at 2:50AM on 02/07/07
http://www.vistawide.com/german/why_german2.htm ....... In waves of immigration that span nearly 4 centuries, Germans brought with them many customs and traditions that have become so ingrained in American ways that their origin is often forgotten. Family names and names of thousands of towns and cities indicate the German heritage of their ancestors or founders. Such cultural mainstays as kindergarten, the Christmas tree, and hot dogs and hamburgers were introduced by German immigrants to America. They founded multiple breweries, created Levi's jeans, invented ketchup, and created Hershey's chocolate. Germans had such a fundamental presence at the time of the founding of the United States that a German language version of the Declaration of Independence was printed only a few days after it was adopted. Thank You n Goodnight lol
Hamburger Anonymous at 2:50AM on 02/07/07
What's all the fuss about where a hamburger was invented. Everybody knows it was invented in Turkey.
Hamburger Joseph at 3:01AM on 02/07/07
If you had claimed you invented a commercial food product, like the hamburger, PRIOR to your ability to have cooked it, I would say that didn't hold water. In the case of the hamburger, I'm still waiting for any evidence as to how these other places prepared the meat, cooked the meat, etc. Which broilers, gridirons or stoves did they use? You would think that the cooking apparatus had to develop before & along with the hamburger as a new commercial food, right? That's how it went in New Haven, Ct & Louis' Lunch is proof of that.
Hamburger Tom Pieragostini at 3:11AM on 02/07/07
i say texas made it. why? because texas is my homestate. don't mess wit texas!!!!!!!!! dissin texas is like dissin sports and life!!! i love cheeseburgers.
Hamburger drew at 3:16AM on 02/07/07
texas
Hamburger ben at 3:16AM on 02/07/07
texas all the way
Hamburger jeff barentrale at 3:17AM on 02/07/07
Who flew an airplane in America first Gustave Whitehead or the Wright Bro.s? Sometimes the first person to do something is not given credit because there are other people willing to make bribes to take the credit away. The American hamburger is just another invention from Connecticut trying to be taken away.
Hamburger Tom Pieragostini at 3:17AM on 02/07/07
At this point, who really cares where it came from, as long as it doesn't go away. Grill it, eat it, quit arguing and enjoy................
Hamburger Craig Crosson at 3:25AM on 02/07/07
home of the hamburger is seymour, wi. why else would they have burger days the first weekend every august.
Hamburger Anonymous at 3:27AM on 02/07/07
There aren't enough days in the year for Connecticut to celebrate what was invented here. Things like the helicopter, airplane, repeating rifle, etc to just name a few.
Hamburger Tom Pieragostini at 3:34AM on 02/07/07
Does it really matter that much? Do you expect royalties, or just the satisfaction that millions of people have and will die because of something that was created in your hometown?
Hamburger Jimmy at 3:59AM on 02/07/07
Ham-burger, NO BIG DEAL. I believe they all invented the juicy fast food; remember great minds think alike. Even a two year old knows the meat goes between two slices of bread. All I care about is that the damn thing taste good when you are hungry. Who's gonna claim peanut butter and jelly? Elizabeth
Hamburger Elizabeth Anthony at 4:23AM on 02/07/07
Non-separating peanut butter was invented in 1922 by Joseph Rosefield
Hamburger Tom Pieragostini at 4:37AM on 02/07/07
Hamburgers, like repeating rifles, don't kill people, people kill people. You don't have to eat hamburgers, right?
Hamburger Tom Pieragostini at 4:42AM on 02/07/07
CT all the way....born and raised in CT we have a rich history including making burgers
Hamburger Sean at 5:10AM on 02/07/07
Theres nothing but queers and steers in texas and everybody knows it .wisconsin wins.indians have been mixing assorted meats with their native breads long before 1895.attend a pow wow you'll find out.a white man
Hamburger lee at 9:19AM on 02/07/07
The oldest continuing Indian reservation in the U.S. is in Connecticut started in 1659 for the Golden Hill Paugusetts. Those Wisconsin Indians, where did they come from? What was the name of their tribe? Most likely they were Eastern Indians displaced westward by the Europeans, right?
Hamburger Tom Pieragostini at 12:29PM on 02/07/07
Menches and Swenson's have it tied up neck & neck. For every 2 pounds of ground steak you want to use a half cup of liquid coffee and a cup to a cup and a half of sugar. Top with american cheese onion and dill pickle only.UUUMMM boy. I think I'll have to get back to Akron for some bergs.
Hamburger Mark Edwards at 2:12PM on 02/07/07
they where invented in germany get a h.s diploma you idiots next thing you know you assholes invented the taco.
Hamburger dillinger at 2:13PM on 02/07/07
Actually - hate to burst all "y'all's" bubble, but my daddies, grand-daddies, sister's unlce's grand daddie's daddie had one of them grid irons... been cooking jerkey & meat patties on it for many many moons... today it is now known as George Foremen's Lean Mean Grillin Machine... WHO CARES!! I dont know where it started, dont care ... I know i make one helluva burger myself ... I know I enjoy freshly made burgers from mom & pop type eateries .... I know that McD's is killing America & has been globalizing their takeover movement ... watch "Supersize Me" - yes it is a bit extreme ... but ya cant argue with science! when McD's burgers take longer to rot than store bought ground beef... you know what McD's sells aint NATURAL!! & their fries probly arent made from actual potato either... they lasted even longer - till they were thrown out ... I avoid fast food - I will go to the little guys that i know they use real meat... or i just make it myself & save some $$ ... Dont know where it started, but i know where it's ending up!! GET IN MY BELLY!!!!
Hamburger M at 2:20PM on 02/07/07
yes I agree hamburgers are tasty but having a cholesterol problem the fatty meat they use is a drawback . I use the best cut and make sure it is as fat free as possible . The hamburger has been killing people from day one , we are just now realizing this . Yea! go ahead and super size it Get all your fat at once .
Hamburger rpm at 2:37PM on 02/07/07
Seymour, Wisconsin has my vote. They cook one of the largest, if not the largest hamburger in the world annually. They also have a hamburger festivle. I think that the idea might have came over with the Germans, there are many that live up that way.....
Hamburger allyah at 4:20PM on 02/07/07
If that x-presidential candidate would kindly step forward and admit it; he could settle this argument once and for all!
Hamburger Casual observant at 6:26PM on 02/07/07
It's only fair that Akron, OH gives Louis' Lunch another chance to re-argue its case at a re-trial this summer to decide once & for all who invented the American hamburger.
Hamburger Tom Pieragostini at 8:28PM on 02/07/07
Seymour Wisconsin is the Hamburger Capital ! We have been featured on Food Network who has also stated that we are Hamburger Capital ! We have the Hamburger fest, and have won the contest held last year between several cities. Come visit us the first weekend in August for the best fest every - Hamburger Fest !
Hamburger Burgerfest - Seymour at 1:23AM on 02/08/07
Don't know where they came from, but the best burgers in Wisconsin can be had at the Midway Tap in Mineral Point.
Hamburger Doctor_Slo at 3:32AM on 02/08/07
Who is writting the stuff on this comment board, i mean, come on!
Hamburger Brad at 10:20PM on 05/23/07
@Brad: I think it's high school kids doing papers or something. They all seem very juvenile. The Mgmt.
Adam Kuban at 10:38PM on 05/23/07
Dear AHT,
i'M AN AVID READER OF YOUR SITE, HOWEVER, I'M PUZZLED WHY THERE ARE NOT MORE BURGER JOINTS REVIEWED IN CONNECTICUT!
LOUI'S LUNCH IS AN INSTITUTION BUT C'MON THERES MANY MORE IN THE CONSTITUION STATE!!!!
scooter at 9:06AM on 07/28/07
Seymour, Seymour, Seymour. I have lived here my hole life and I know that Seymour, WI is home of the hambuger. Even the state counsil says so. Seymour also holds the recored for the worlds largest hamburger. We also have a hamburger fest. Seymour also has the most artifacts to prove that Charlie Nagreen is indeed the Inventor Of The First Hamburger!
izzietesch at 7:35PM on 04/10/08
Although the hamburger could have been invented in several places simultaneously, I vote for Seymour Wisconsin. The generously sized hamburger is really good (hold the ketchup please) and the annual Hamburger Fest is a blast.
BurgerFan at 11:45AM on 04/19/08