Starbucks Austin mug: Discovery Series
The Austin mug from Starbucks' Discovery Series sets the city name in yellow-green over a dark green circle, with a skyline under an orange sunburst, an armadillo, wildflowers, two paddleboarders and an arched footbridge.
- Series
- Discovery Series
- Place
- Austin, Texas, USA
- Type
- Mug
- Released
- Not confirmed
- Capacity
- 14 fl ozstandard mug size
- SKU
- Not confirmed
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The gap an engineer left, and the bats that moved in
In 1980, Mark Bloschock, then in his mid-twenties and on one of his first projects for the Texas Department of Transportation, helped decide how far apart to space the new beams under Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge [1][2]. The gap, between three-quarters of an inch and an inch and a half, seemed a small decision [1]. Each spring Mexican free-tailed bats migrate up from Mexico, and the new crevices suited them perfectly [1]. In 1984 the Austin American-Statesman ran the headline "Bat Colonies Sink Teeth Into City" [2], and many people petitioned to have the colony eradicated [3]. Merlin Tuttle, a bat scientist, packed up and moved to Texas [1]. Texas Monthly gave him a Bum Steer Award in 1986 [2]. Bat Conservation International's case was practical: on their nightly flights the bats eat 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of insects [3]. By 1990, according to 99% Invisible, the mayor had declared Austin the Bat Capital of America [1]. The purple bats flying across the Austin mug (12) may be those bats.
The mug does not label its drawings, so connecting this one to the story is our reading.
What's on the mug
- 1Lettering
AUSTIN in yellow-green capitals over a dark green circle.
- 2Skyline and sunburst
A skyline of tall buildings sits under an orange sunburst on top of the circle.
- 3Armadillo
A green armadillo with a purple-patterned shell walks at the lower right.
- 4Wildflowers
Wildflowers in yellow, purple and orange grow along the right side of the circle.
- 5Paddleboarders
Two paddleboarders glide along a purple river below the lettering.
- 6Arched footbridge
An orange arched footbridge crosses the river at the lower left.
- 7Leaping figure
A figure in purple and orange leaps at the left edge.
- 8Green parrot Side view
A green parrot with a purple wing perches on the left edge of this face.
- 9Stage with crowd Side view
A green and orange stage with a crowd of people with raised arms in front of it.
- 10Red-and-white food truck Side view
A purple food truck with a red-and-white striped awning and green wheels sits below the stage.
- 11Decorated tree Side view
A green tree hung with orange and red ornaments stands at the left, with a small gift box at its foot.
- 12Bats Back view
A cluster of purple bats flies across the left of this face.
- 13Bridge Back view
A green and yellow arched bridge crosses the lower band of the design, with tiny red figures along it.
- 146th Street sign Back view
A street sign reading E 6TH STREET hangs near the right edge.
- 15Rock outcrop Back view
A green rocky outcrop with orange foliage on top rises behind the sign.
Together the three photos show most of the outside of the mug; the strip directly opposite the handle may be only partly visible.
Collector notes
- The inside of this mug is green, which shows at the rim in the photo.
- Austin is also a Been There Series mug on our checklists; this page covers the Discovery design with the armadillo and the skyline.
Before you buy
The inside of this mug is green, which shows at the rim in the photo. Austin is also a Been There Series mug; this page covers the Discovery design, which is the one with the armadillo, the skyline and the bats.
