The Cultural and Historical Significance of Hot Dogs in America

Nineteenth-century Indiana made headlines with some of the strictest “blue laws” in the United States. These laws aimed to preserve Sunday for rest and worship by prohibiting alcohol sales, and surprisingly, hot dogs as well. Indiana’s efforts were significant for another reason, as they documented the country’s earliest known use of the term “hot dog” in print. On September 14, 1884, the Evansville Courier & Press noted, “Even the innocent wienerworst man will be barred from dispensing hot dog on the street corners.” German sausages like weisswurst, bockwurst, and blutwurst became as American as baseball.

Author Bruce Kraig, who wrote “Hot Dog: A Global History,” states, “Hot dogs become embedded in American culture. They become completely associated with ballparks by the 1890s.” The annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in New York further connected hot dogs to the nation’s birthday celebration.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council lists 19 regional varieties of hot dogs. These range from the french-fry topped Cleveland “Polish boy” to the bacon-wrapped Sonoran dog. One famous type is the Chicago dog, served with its seven traditional toppings and a poppy seed bun.

Despite regional differences, hot dogs have played a significant role in “hot dog diplomacy,” a term coined by the U.S. National Archives. As World War II loomed, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth became the first reigning British royals to visit America. The Roosevelts, against the wishes of FDR’s mother, served them hot dogs. The king requested additional servings, according to The New York Times. In a memorable moment from April 8, 1963, President Kennedy watched the American League opener while enjoying a hot dog. He stayed for the entire game, witnessing the Baltimore Orioles defeat the Washington Senators 3-1.

On September 22, 1959, Nikita Khrushchev, during his tour of the Des Moines Packing Co. plant, experienced his first American hot dog. Later that year, Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro visited the U.S. and took a bite of a hot dog during a trip to New York’s Bronx Zoo. Khrushchev commented that while the USSR occasionally outpaced the U.S. in the space race, “you have beaten us in sausage-making.”

Globally, hot dogs have a diverse fan base. Gloria Ousset, a 74-year-old from Argentina, visited her son in New York in June and made a stop at Walter’s Hot Dogs. Walter’s unique blend of beef, pork, and veal reminded Gloria of the crunchy Argentine dogs she once enjoyed. Unfortunately, in her view, this crunch is something current Argentine dogs lack, now being bland in comparison.

Hot dogs are more than a simple meal. In 2024, artists Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw made headlines with a 65-foot hot dog sculpture in Times Square. Each day at noon, the sculpture humorously expanded and released confetti. In 2023, comedy writer and podcaster Jamie Loftus launched her engaging book about her cross-country tour of hot dog venues titled “Raw Dog: The Naked Truth about Hot Dogs.” Loftus regards the hot dog as “an appropriate symbol for the U.S. It is a source of joy and nostalgia for so many people.”

This article is part of the “American Objects” series, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.