Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Florida Daytona Beach Brownie the Town Dog's Grave

Brownie the Town Dog's Grave

Owned by no one but beloved by all, Brownie was a good dog.

Daytona Beach, Florida

Added By
Eddie James
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Brownie’s Grave. A good dog.   eddiejams / Atlas Obscura User
Brownie’s 1954 obituary.   eddiejams / Atlas Obscura User
Tourist with Brownie, sometime in the early 1950s   State Library and Archives of Florida
Riverfront Park in Daytona Beach, the site of Brownie’s grave.   Map data
He was a good dog.   eddiejams (Atlas Obscura User)
People leave flowers for Brownie   eddiejams / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
  PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
Currently In A Construction Zone   Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Currently In A Construction Zone   Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Brownie’s Dog House   Halifax Historical Society
Brownie Card sent every Christmas   Halifax Historical Society
Brownie in 1953   Halifax Historical Society
Brownie’s Bank Book   eddiejams / Atlas Obscura User
A statue for Brownie was dedicated in June 2018!   eddiejams / Atlas Obscura User
  robeau20 / Atlas Obscura User
The grave is now a true memorial to Brownie’s life!   eddiejams / Atlas Obscura User
The Brownie statue   eddiejams / Atlas Obscura User
Benches are dedicated to people who helped Brownie during his lifetime.   eddiejams / Atlas Obscura User
Brownie statue gets lots of visitors.   eddiejams / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Brownie, a large, brown, short-haired stray dog, lived on Beach Street for 15 years, and became known far beyond his seaside home as the Town Dog of Daytona Beach.

Brownie entered the world sometime around 1939, and entered the front door of the Daytona Cab Company soon after. Owner Ed Budgen and his drivers took a shine to the friendly dog, and built him a dog house out front. Brownie quickly became known up and down Beach Street and along the riverfront, belonging to no one, but to everyone.

Locals, Beach Street merchants and tourists all donated funds to keep Brownie well fed and well cared for, and Ed at the cab company even established a Florida Bank and Trust account in his name to make sure there was always enough to buy dog food and pay any vet bills.

Brownie’s sweet disposition and diplomatic demeanor made him a must-see for shoppers and tourists, who all stopped to greet him, take a picture with him, or just sit with him while waiting for a bus or cab. Each year, the townspeople bought Brownie a dog license, his tag always #1 signifying that he was the official goodwill ambassador for the town.

As his popularity grew, Brownie was written about not only in the local Daytona Beach press, but in national magazines and newspapers, and every year he received Christmas cards and presents from all over the United States.

He died on Halloween in 1954 at the age of 15. The entire city mourned the good dog’s passing, and 75 people attended his funeral in Riverfront Park. Mayor Jack Tamm gave the eulogy.

Related Tags

Gravestones Pet Cemeteries Dogs Animals Graves

Know Before You Go

Brownie's Grave is in Riverfront Park near the water on the corner of Beach and Orange Avenue. Brownie's grave is at the south end of the park. You can see the bronze statue from the street.

Community Contributors

Added By

eddiejams

Edited By

PushingUpDaisies, Collector of Experiences, robeau20

  • PushingUpDaisies
  • Collector of Experiences
  • robeau20

Published

March 10, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/13406
  • http://letstalkpets.blogs.news-journalonline.com/10393/brownie-the-town-dog-of-daytona-beach-his-legacy-goes-on/
  • http://honoraryfloridian.blogspot.com/2011/03/daytona-beach-part-1-he-was-good-dog.html
Brownie the Town Dog's Grave
Riverfront Park
S. Beach Street & Orange Avenue
Daytona Beach, Florida
United States
29.208973, -81.017392
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Home of the Holly Hills Gnomes

Holly Hill, Florida

miles away

Bongoland Ruins

Port Orange, Florida

miles away

The Last Resort Bar

Port Orange, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Florida

Florida

United States

Places 435
Stories 47

Nearby Places

Home of the Holly Hills Gnomes

Holly Hill, Florida

miles away

Bongoland Ruins

Port Orange, Florida

miles away

The Last Resort Bar

Port Orange, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Florida

Florida

United States

Places 435
Stories 47

Related Stories and Lists

The Final Resting Places of 7 Famous Dogs

pet cemeteries

By Meg Neal

The Quirkiest Local Landmarks in Small-Town America

List

By Meg Neal

Related Places

  • The gravestone.

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Grave of 'The Great Lafayette'

    A magician and his beloved, pampered canine were buried together, within days of each other, due to a tragic twist of fate.

  • Some of the more than 50,000 beloved pets buried at Aspin Hill.

    Silver Spring, Maryland

    Aspin Hill Pet Cemetery

    Dogs, cats, horses, monkeys, frogs, and fish are laid to rest at the second-oldest pet cemetery in the U.S.

  • Alresford, England

    Grave of Hambone Jr.

    This grave remembers the beloved canine companion of soldiers far from home.

  • Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery

    Dedham, Massachusetts

    Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery

    This memorial garden is the final resting place of many beloved pets including that of a famous explorer.

  • Stockholm, Sweden

    Pompes Grav (Pompe the Dog's Grave)

    A tombstone on the grounds of the royal castle marks the burial site of a Swedish king's beloved dog.

  • Giro’s Gravestone

    London, England

    Giro the Dog's Grave

    The final resting place of a German diplomat's beloved companion.

  • Stockholm, Sweden

    The Grave of Morgan

    A simple stone remembers one of the most menacing horses in the Swedish military.

  • Happy Woodlawn Pet Cemetery.

    Aurora, Ontario

    Happy Woodlawn Pet Cemetery

    Canada's first pet cemetery is now abandoned.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.