Discovery Series – Alabama

Let’s review the Discovery Series Alabama mug from “the Yellowhammer State”.

Alabama’s history as the “Heart of Dixie” begins with its admission to the Union as the 22nd state on December 14, 1819. The state played a pivotal role in American history, serving as the birthplace of the Confederacy when Montgomery became its first capital in 1861. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Alabama became the stage for transformative events, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965.… Read more

Discovery Series – Denver

Starbucks Discovery Series Denver is a mug for the “Mile High City”. Its history begins with its founding in 1858 during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, when prospectors established a mining camp at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. The city was officially incorporated in 1861 and named after James W. Denver, the governor of Kansas Territory. Denver became the capital of Colorado when the state joined the Union in 1876, transforming from a rough frontier town into a thriving commercial hub.… Read more

Discovery Series – San Antonio

Discovery Series San Antonio is a full-sized version of the previously reviewed ornament.

San Antonio grew from a Spanish colonial settlement founded in 1718 into one of Texas’s most culturally expressive cities. Its history blends Indigenous roots, Spanish missions, Mexican heritage, and later American influence, which together shaped the city’s architecture, food, music, and celebrations. Over time, San Antonio became known for its hospitality, its riverside spaces, and its energetic artistic traditions that continue to define life in the city today.… Read more

Discovery Series – St. Louis

The Discovery Series St. Louis is a mug for “Gateway to the West”.

St. Louis’s history begins with its founding in 1764 by French fur traders Pierre Laclède and Auguste Chouteau. Named after King Louis IX of France, the city became a crucial river port and launching point for westward expansion during the 19th century. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and the Lewis and Clark Expedition that departed from St. Louis in 1804 cemented its role as America’s gateway. From hosting the 1904 World’s Fair to becoming a major manufacturing and brewing center, St.… Read more

Discovery Series – Arizona

Discovery Series – Arizona is a mug for a state shaped by Indigenous civilizations, Spanish exploration, frontier settlement, mining booms, and the growth of desert cities that attracted new residents throughout the twentieth century. Long before statehood in 1912, the region was home to remarkable cultures such as the Hohokam and Ancestral Puebloans, whose canal systems and architectural sites still impress visitors today. When railroads and copper mining expanded, Arizona’s towns grew quickly, eventually building the diverse economy that connects its ancient past with its modern identity.… Read more

Discovery Series – Montana

Discovery Series Montana is a mug for the Treasure State.

Montana’s history as the 41st state begins with its admission to the Union on November 8, 1889, though the region’s story stretches back to the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1805-1806. The discovery of gold in the 1860s brought waves of prospectors and settlers, transforming the territory from Native American lands into mining camps and cattle ranching country. From the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876 to the copper mining boom in Butte, Montana’s past is marked by conflict, extraction, and the enduring presence of vast wilderness that continues to define its character today.… Read more

Discovery Series – New Orleans

I can’t believe it has been a year since I reviewed the ornament from the Big Easy. It is time to take a look at the design of the Discovery Series New Orleans mug.

New Orleans’ history stretches back to 1718 when French colonists founded the city along a strategic bend in the Mississippi River. The city passed through French, Spanish, and French hands again before the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 brought it into the United States. This multicultural heritage created a unique Creole culture that blends French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and American influences.… Read more

Discovery Series – North Dakota

I recently reviewed the ornament from The Peace Garden State, where wide skies meet endless possibilities. Discovery Series North Dakota is its big brother.

North Dakota’s story reaches deep into the past, shaped first by the Indigenous nations who lived on these plains for thousands of years, including the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota, and Dakota peoples. Their agricultural villages, trade networks, and earth-lodge settlements formed the earliest foundations of the region. Europeans arrived in the 18th century, drawn by fur-trade routes stretching along the Missouri River, and the land eventually became part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.… Read more

Discovery Series – Louisiana

Yesterday we reviewed the ornament, today let’s do the same for the Discovery Series Louisiana mug.

Louisiana’s history begins long before it became a state in 1812. The region was originally home to many Indigenous nations, including the Choctaw, Houma, and Chitimacha peoples. It later became a strategic French territory, ceded to Spain, then returned to France before being sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Over time, Louisiana earned the nickname “The Pelican State,” shaped by its river culture, Creole heritage, and unique blend of French, African, Caribbean, and American influences.… Read more

Discovery Series – San Diego

Discovery Series San Diego is a mug for a city that started as the first Spanish mission and settlement in California back in the 1700s. Over time, it grew into a relaxed coastal city shaped by the ocean, military history, and a steady flow of new residents. Today it is known for its beaches, mild weather, and a laid-back lifestyle that blends different cultures into one easy rhythm. It is a place where everyday life feels tied to the water and the outdoors.… Read more

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