The mason jar is an iconic symbol in American culture. Many remember their grandmothers and mothers working to preserve homegrown fruits and vegetables over a hot stove, making jellies, canning meat, and pulling the hot jars from boiling water to cool on the nearby countertops. Others recall bouquets of wildflowers resting on the dining table in a clear and lovely blue aqua jar. The history of the mason jar is written in memory and nostalgia for many, and for others the iconic jar is undergoing a revival in popularity. Just where did these ingenious jars originate? What is the story behind the mason canning jar and its subsequent manufactured glassware?