For lunch or dinner, America’s favorite sandwich is topped off with a piece of cheese and then enjoyed by millions and celebrated each year on September 18 as it is National Cheeseburger Day.

There are many theories to the beginning of the cheeseburger dating back to the 1920′s.  One story suggests that Lionel Sternberger is reputed to have invented the cheeseburger in 1926 while working at his father’s Pasadena, California sandwich shop, “The Rite Spot”.  During an experiment, he dropped a slice of American cheese on a sizzling hamburger.

There are other claims the invention of the cheeseburger:

• A cheeseburger appeared on a 1928 menu at O’Dell’s, a Los Angeles restaurant, which listed a cheeseburger, smothered with chili. for 25 cents.
• Kaelin’s Restaurant – Louisville, Kentucky says it invented the cheeseburger in 1934.
• 1935 – A trademark for the name “cheeseburger” was awarded to Louis Ballast of the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver, Colorado.
• According to it’s archives, Gus Belt, founder of Steak n’ Shake, applied for a trademark on the word “cheeseburger” in the 1930′s.

To celebrate National Cheeseburger Day, gather some friends together, start up your barbecue grills, grill some hamburger patties, add your favorite cheese, then enjoy!