Starbucks Washington, D.C. mug: Discovery Series

By The Starbucks Cups team · Last checked 2026-10-15 · How we make these pages

Starbucks Discovery Series Washington, D.C. mug with fireworks, a kayaker, a white columned building and a blue bird around the name — Front view · numbered markers match the list below Show markers

The Washington, D.C. mug from Starbucks' Discovery Series sets the name in orange capitals over a dark green circle, with fireworks, a kayaker, a white columned building, a blue bird and two stars.

Series: Discovery Series
Place: Washington, D.C., USA
Type: Mug
Released: Not confirmed
Capacity: 14 fl ozstandard mug size
SKU: Not confirmed

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The flag a graphic artist drew for a city without one

Washington had no flag of its own, and in 1921 a graphic artist named Charles Dunn drew one, according to the Flags of the World site ^[1]. He copied it from the Washington family coat of arms: two red bars under three red stars on white ^[2]. Then he waited. In 1938 Congress set up a commission to choose an official flag, and by August it was deadlocked between Dunn's design and a rival, a large star on blue surrounded by 48 gold ones ^[3]. The arms had been confirmed on Lawrence Washington in 1592, and George Washington later had them set in the middle of the fireplace mantel in his front parlor at Mount Vernon ^[4]. On 15 October 1938 the commission picked Dunn's ^[5]. The two teal stars beside the lettering on the Washington, D.C. mug (6) may nod to the three red ones on that flag.

The mug does not label its drawings, so connecting this one to the story is our reading.

What's on the mug

1
Lettering
WASHINGTON in orange capitals, with D.C. in smaller capitals below to the right, over a dark green circle.
2
Fireworks
Bursts of orange and blue fireworks spread across the top of the circle.
3
Kayaker
A person in an orange life vest paddles a green kayak on blue water at the lower left.
4
White columned building
A white building with a columned front and a pointed pediment sits at the lower right.
5
Blue bird
A blue bird with spread wings flies at the upper right, clutching a red-and-blue striped object.
6
Stars
Two teal stars with dark outlines sit to the right of the lettering.
7
Left-edge monument
A pale columned building in blue and white shows at the far left edge.
8
Elephant Side view
A red elephant stands on the bridge at the upper left of this view.
9
Donkey Side view
A blue donkey stands just right of the elephant.
10
Columned building and pool Side view
A building with a long row of tall red-and-blue columns stands behind a wide blue pool.
11
Mallet Side view
A dark mallet with a rectangular head lies across the lower left, beside a pale green bird.
12
Elephant on the back Back view
A red elephant stands on top of a rounded red-and-white shape on this side.
13
Red blossoms Back view
A thick arch of red flowers curves over the rooftops.
14
Row of townhouses Back view
Narrow houses in green, white and red stand side by side, with a red tree to their left.

The photo shows one side of the mug. The back and the area behind the handle are out of view.

Collector notes

The inside of this mug is pale aqua, which shows at the rim in the photo.
The fireworks and the kayaker sit on the left of the circle and the building and the blue bird on the right, with a columned building cut off at the far left edge, so a photo from the right misses it.

Before you buy

The photo shows only one side of this mug, and the inside is pale aqua. Starbucks also made Washington D.C. mugs in its Been There, Icon and You Are Here series, so confirm the series in the listing before you order.