Discovery Series Ornament – Cambridge
It seems that Starbucks decided to release as many Discovery Series locations as quickly as possible. And we get ornaments for the locations that never got one before. This is exactly the case with the Discovery Series Ornament—Cambridge because just as I got back from my trip to Boston, this little mug was spotted online.
Cambridge, founded in 1630, has a rich history deeply intertwined with American academic and revolutionary heritage. Originally part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the area was a crucial site during the American Revolution and later became home to two of the world’s most prestigious universities: Harvard (founded in 1636) and MIT. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Cambridge transformed from a small agricultural settlement to a global center of education, innovation, and intellectual discourse, attracting scholars, scientists, and entrepreneurs from around the world. Its strategic location near Boston and its renowned educational institutions have made it a pivotal hub of cultural and technological advancement.
The front of the ornament showcases the Charles River, a meandering waterway that flows through Cambridge and is a defining geographical and recreational feature of the city. Stretching approximately 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston Harbor, the river serves as a natural boundary between Cambridge and Boston, and provides numerous opportunities for rowing, sailing, and waterfront activities. Lined with parks, bike paths, and offering stunning views of the Boston and Cambridge skylines, the Charles River is not just a geographical landmark but also a cherished urban recreational space that connects communities and provides a scenic backdrop to the area’s rich academic and cultural landscape.
As I’ve mentioned, Cambridge is home to two of the world’s most prestigious universities: Harvard and MIT. These prestigious institutions have fundamentally different origins and missions – Harvard, founded in 1636, stands as America’s oldest university with a rich tradition in liberal arts, law, and business, while MIT, established in 1861, emerged as a response to growing industrialization, focusing on scientific and technological innovation. Both universities have transformed their surrounding neighborhoods, with Harvard Yard and its historic red-brick buildings defining the character of Harvard Square, while MIT’s striking modern architecture and research facilities have reshaped the Kendall Square area into a leading innovation hub. Together, these institutions have made Cambridge a global center of learning, attracting brilliant minds from around the world and contributing countless breakthroughs in fields ranging from medicine and computer science to social sciences and the arts.
The subway train on the front of the ornament is a reference to the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) subway system. Cambridge’s connection to the MBTA is primarily through the Red Line, which includes five major stations across the city: Alewife, Davis, Porter, Harvard Square, and Kendall/MIT. These historic subway stations, particularly Harvard Square which opened in 1912, have become not just transit hubs but also important landmarks that reflect Cambridge’s evolution from a streetcar suburb to a major urban center of education and innovation.
The back of the ornament shows Triple-Decker Houses that are iconic to Cambridge’s residential architecture, featuring characteristic three-story wooden structures with stacked porches that were built primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to house the city’s growing working-class population. These distinctive homes, typically accommodating three separate families on each floor, remain a significant part of Cambridge’s architectural heritage
