Discovery Series – Minnesota

Discovery Series Minnesota is a mug for a state that became part of the United States on May 11, 1858, carved from territories shaped by Ojibwe and Dakota indigenous nations before European settlement. French fur traders arrived in the 17th century, followed by waves of Scandinavian and German immigrants in the late 1800s who established farms and communities across the prairies and forests. The state’s economy flourished through lumber, flour milling powered by St. Anthony Falls, and iron ore mining from the Mesabi Range that fueled American industry through two world wars.… Read more

Discovery Series – Whistler

If you prefer the bigger mugs over the ornaments, then the Discovery Series Whistler is the one to get when visiting this well-known ski resort.

Whistler’s history as a world-class mountain resort begins with its development in the 1960s, when a group of Vancouver businessmen envisioned creating a ski destination to rival the Alps and potentially host the Winter Olympics. The resort opened in 1966 as Whistler Mountain, with Blackcomb Mountain following in 1980, creating a legendary dual-mountain experience. Whistler finally achieved its Olympic dream when it co-hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics with Vancouver, showcasing the resort to a global audience.… Read more

Discovery Series – Atlantic Canada

Discovery Series Atlantic Canada is a mug for the four easternmost provinces of Canada – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – where European settlement began in the early 1600s. French Acadians established communities in the 1600s before British conquest led to the tragic deportation of Acadians in 1755. The region’s economy was built on fishing, shipbuilding, and maritime trade, with cod fishing sustaining communities for centuries until the devastating collapse of fish stocks in the 1990s.… Read more

Discovery Series – Monterey

Discovery Series Monterey is another interesting release from California.

Monterey’s story begins in 1770 when Spanish explorers established it as the capital of Alta California, making it the political and cultural heart of Spain’s Pacific coast territories. The city continued as the capital under Mexican rule until California’s statehood in 1850, witnessing the transition from Spanish missions to American governance. In the early 20th century, Monterey became synonymous with its booming sardine industry, which John Steinbeck immortalized in “Cannery Row,” though overfishing led to the industry’s collapse by the 1950s.… Read more

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

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