Discovery Series Ornament – Tampa Bay
The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Tampa Bay captures the coastal energy, history, and colorful culture of Florida’s Gulf Coast region in miniature form. Despite its small size, the ornament includes several recognizable symbols tied to Tampa Bay’s waterfront identity, local traditions, transportation, marine life, and food culture.
Included throughout the design of the ornament are several landmarks and cultural references associated with Tampa Bay.
– Sunshine Skyway Bridge stretches across the front of the ornament with its unmistakable cable-stayed structure. Spanning Tampa Bay between St. Petersburg and Bradenton, the bridge is considered one of Florida’s most recognizable engineering landmarks and is known for its dramatic views over the Gulf waters.
– Cownose stingray imagery reflects the marine life commonly found in the waters around Tampa Bay. These rays are frequently spotted in the region’s coastal ecosystems and have become closely associated with Florida’s Gulf Coast wildlife.
– The figure in the colorful costume is most likely a reference to the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, one of Tampa’s best-known annual celebrations. Inspired by the legend of pirate José Gaspar, the festival fills the city with pirate-themed parades, elaborate costumes, decorated ships, and large public celebrations every year.
– The Cuban sandwich, shown on the back of the ornament, represents Tampa Bay’s local culinary scene. Tampa’s version of the Cuban sandwich traditionally combines ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and salami on pressed Cuban bread, reflecting the city’s strong Cuban, Spanish, and Italian influences.
– TECO Line Streetcar System appears as part of the transportation imagery included in the design. The historic streetcar connects downtown Tampa with Ybor City and Channelside, using vintage-style trolleys that pay homage to the city’s early 20th-century transit history.
