Description
Black Hills map mug
This is the Xplorer Maps Black Hills mug, a 16 oz ceramic with a wraparound illustration by Chris Robitaille, the studio’s co-founder and lead artist. The map is hand-drawn rather than photographic, with bison, elk, mountain goats, and birds of prey set into the cartography alongside the landmarks people drive to the Black Hills to see: Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower, Wind Cave. The interior and handle are finished in a bold accent glaze that matches the green of the exterior pine forest.
Xplorer Maps makes the same 16 oz ceramic body across their full mug line. If you have their Yellowstone, Glacier, Banff, or any of the other park mugs, this is the same shape and the same construction, with Black Hills artwork. The trade-off for the printed art is that it is not dishwasher or microwave safe. Hand-wash only, and the colors stay sharp.
What’s on the artwork
The illustration covers the full exterior of the mug. From the Wind Cave-facing side around to Devils Tower, the map runs across the southern Black Hills, the central forest, and the Wyoming border. Wildlife is integrated into the landscape, not floating off to the side: a bison standing in the grasslands, elk in the ponderosa, mountain goats on the granite. Robitaille’s style is closer to a hand-illustrated park brochure from the 1950s than to a modern photographic souvenir.
Specifications
- Capacity: 16 oz
- Dimensions: 3 1/4″ diameter x 4 1/2″ tall
- Weight: 17.2 oz
- Material: Ceramic, BPA-free
- Color: Green exterior, bold accent glaze on interior and handle
- Care: Hand-wash only. Not microwave safe. Not dishwasher safe.
- Designed by: Chris Robitaille, Xplorer Maps
- Country of origin: Designed in the USA
Who is this for?
Visitors who already know the region. If you have stood on the Rankin Ridge trail in Wind Cave or driven the Needles Highway, the artwork hits differently than a generic park-system mug. The wildlife and landmarks are placed where they actually are.
Collectors of the Xplorer Maps line. Same 16 oz ceramic body as the Yellowstone, Glacier, Banff, Sequoia, and other Xplorer park mugs. The Black Hills edition slots onto the same shelf with the same proportions.
Gift buyers who want a regional souvenir that gets used. A 16 oz mug is the size that holds a whole pour of drip coffee or a generous tea. It is more practical than a magnet and more durable than a postcard.
Frequently asked questions
Is this mug dishwasher safe?
No. The printed artwork is not engineered for dishwasher heat and detergent cycles. Hand-wash only. Xplorer Maps publishes this care instruction on every mug in the line.
Is it microwave safe?
No. Microwave use is not recommended. If you need to reheat, transfer to a microwave-safe vessel.
How big is it?
16 oz capacity, 4 1/2″ tall, 3 1/4″ diameter. A full-size morning coffee mug, slightly larger than a classic 12 oz cup.
Is it BPA-free?
Yes. Xplorer Maps confirms BPA-free construction for the entire mug line.
Who is Chris Robitaille?
Co-founder and lead artist at Xplorer Maps. He illustrates the cartography for the studio’s full map and mug line, hand-drawing each park’s geography and wildlife in a vintage-style cartographic format.
What landmarks are on the map?
Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower (regional landmarks visible across the Black Hills area), Wind Cave National Park, plus bison, elk, mountain goats, and birds of prey set into the landscape. The map is a piece of artwork, not a navigation tool.
How does this compare to BHPFA’s 12 oz Black Hills map mug?
That one (SKU 4699) is McGovern & Company’s “Inside Out” map mug, 12 oz, dishwasher and microwave safe, with the map printed on the interior of the cup. This 16 oz mug is from Xplorer Maps, with the artwork on the exterior and a different illustrative style. Different brand, different capacity, different artwork, different care requirements.
Does buying this support national parks?
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
Does this mug have a Passport stamp location?
The mug itself is not a Passport item. If you are collecting Passport to Your National Parks cancellation stamps, BHPFA partner sites in the program are Wind Cave NP, Jewel Cave NM, Scotts Bluff NM, and Agate Fossil Beds NM. National Forest visitor centers do not have Passport stamps (the program is NPS only).
