Birthplace of the Cheeseburger
Denver, Colorado
A granite monument dedicated on March 5, 1987, indicates where the Humpty Dumpty Barrel restaurant, "Colorado's first drive-in," once stood. It's owner, Louis E. Ballast, supposedly created the cheeseburger on this site. To legally bolster the claim, the monument notes that, "The Cheeseburger trademark was registered by Mr. Ballast on March 5, 1935."
Tipster Mark Turner reminds us that an eatery named Kaelin's in Louisville, Kentucky, has a "1934 menu to substantiate their claim as the birthplace of the cheeseburger," which would beat Humpty Dumpty's claim by a full year.
A bronze plaque on the outside wall of Kaelin's announces its cheeseburger claim, and while we tip our windshield visor to Louisville, a plaque is just not as meaningful as a monument. For your cheesy meat patty recognition pilgrimage, Denver is the place to go.