Starbucks Niagara Falls mug: Discovery Series
The Niagara Falls mug from Starbucks' Discovery Series sets the name in red-orange over a dark green circle, with a monarch butterfly, a waterfall, three visitors in rain ponchos, a red-railed walkway and a viewing platform.
- Series
- Discovery Series
- Place
- Niagara Falls, Canada and USA
- Type
- Mug
- Released
- Not confirmed
- Capacity
- 14 fl ozstandard mug size
- SKU
- Not confirmed
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The view that had to be won back from the fences
By the 1870s, high fences stood around nearly every open viewpoint on the American side of Niagara Falls, and you paid for a look [1]. In August 1869 the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted had walked Goat Island and found a clutter of industry and signs [2][3]. In 1873 even the old Terrapin Tower at the brink was torn down, because a buyer was about to fence in the last open spot on the American shore [4]. A petition from Olmsted and Norton, signed by leading figures in the United States, Canada and Britain, urged the state to buy the private land [5]. New York took it by eminent domain and planned to demolish all 150 structures on it [6]. The reservation opened on 15 July 1885, and Niagara Falls State Park is described as the oldest state park in the United States [7]. The white waterfall on the mug (3) is what the fences were hiding.
The mug does not label its drawings, so connecting this one to the story is our reading.
What's on the mug
- 1Lettering
NIAGARA FALLS in red-orange capitals over a dark green circle.
- 2Monarch butterfly
A monarch butterfly in orange, black and white spots sits at the upper left, with a small teal butterfly beside it.
- 3Waterfall
A white waterfall with blue and yellow streaks drops at the right of the circle.
- 4Visitors in ponchos
Three visitors in yellow, red and blue rain ponchos stand at the lower left, one with an arm raised.
- 5Red-railed walkway
A red-railed walkway with small figures runs along the foot of the falls.
- 6Viewing platform
A platform with a row of visitors looking out sits at the top of the falls.
The photo shows one side of the mug. The back and the area behind the handle are out of view.
Collector notes
- Niagara-on-the-Lake also has a Discovery Series mug on our checklists; this one is lettered NIAGARA FALLS.
- The three visitors in ponchos sit at the lower left and the red walkway at the lower right, with the waterfall between them.
Before you buy
Niagara-on-the-Lake has a separate Discovery mug, so check that the lettering reads NIAGARA FALLS. Been There, Icon and You Are Here Niagara Falls mugs exist as well and look different.
Other Niagara Falls mugs
About the Discovery Series
Sources
- The movement to free Niagara (HeinOnline blog)
- Heritage moment: Olmsted at Niagara (Buffalo Toronto Public Media)
- Niagara Falls (National Park Service)
- The Village of Niagara Falls: history (Missouri Botanical Garden)
- Olmsted and scenic conservation (Designing America)
- Niagara Falls State Park (Discover Niagara)
- Niagara Falls State Park: celebrating 140 years (New York State Parks)
