Things We All Remember About Old School 4th of July Celebrations

By the 1990s, the burger reigned supreme at every July 4th cookout. Not the kale salad. Not the dessert tray. The burger. Juicy, messy, loaded with American cheese and maybe a too-thick tomato slice, it demanded both hands and plenty of napkins.

Dads flipped them on gas grills, moms stacked toppings on folding tables, and kids made Frankenstein stacks of pickles and ketchup. Veggie burgers were an oddity, not an option. Nobody asked if it was grass-fed. Nobody cared. The burger was king—burnt edges and all. And if you were lucky, there was a second round a few hours later.