The Old World's Wurst

The roots of the hot dog lie deep in Europe, with both Frankfurt, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, claiming to be the birthplace of the long, slender sausage. Frankfurt city records suggest their “frankfurter würstchen” dates back to at least 1487, while Vienna lays claim to the “wiener,” a name derived from Wien, the German name for their city. These early sausages were typically made from pork or a blend of pork and beef, seasoned and smoked.

From German Sausage to American Icon

German immigrants introduced these sausages to America in the 19th century. A popular account credits Charles Feltman, a German baker in Coney Island, with first selling sausages in a long bun starting in 1867 or 1871, a practical solution to prevent customers from burning their hands on hot sausages. The name "hot dog" itself emerged in the late 1800s, likely as a jocular reference to the German dachshund dogs that often accompanied immigrants and whose long, thin shape resembled the sausages.