#7: 2004 “The City on the Edge of Forever”
Retail: $28.00
2021 Secondary Market: $59.95
Size: 3 5/8” H x 4 1/8” W x 2 3/4” D
Code: QXI4094
The City on the Edge of Forever is probably the best hour in all of of Star Trek television. We witness the tragic love story of Kirk and Edith Keeler in this time traveling episode. The Enterprise crew comes across the Guardian of Forever, a doorway to any time and place, where we see Kirk and Spock take that fateful leap into Earth’s past.
The ornament portal flickers to the booming voice of the Guardian which sets this apart from most other Hallmark ornaments with show dialogue.
Captain Kirk: What are you?
The Guardian: I am the Guardian of Forever.
Captain Kirk: Are you a machine or being?
The Guardian: I am both and neither. I am my own beginning, my own end.
Spock: A time portal, Captain. A gateway to other times and dimensions, if I am correct.
The Guardian: Behold! A gateway to your own past, if you wish.
The Guardian: Time has resumed its shape. All is as it was before. Many such journeys are possible. Let me be your gateway.
Unfortunately, this ornament is notorious for failing. There is a capacitor that overheats and causes the sound to quit working. Not all is lost, you can find YouTube repair videos and eBay restoration services online to get your ornament back in working condition. This is an awesome ornament when it is working as intended and deservedly sits at #7 in the Top 10.
The action pose of Spock and Kirk jumping through the portal is precise although the sculpt is inspired by their jump from the past, not to the past. The placement of the activation button is cleverly hidden in the front pillar and the light and sound is powered by a pigtail cord which plugs into an approved light strand. Hallmark would discontinue the pigtail design two years later.
Right: Hallmark’s The City on the Edge of Forever ornament.
2004’s The City on the Edge of Forever ornament was Hallmark’s first scene-centric diorama ornament. Ornaments capturing a famous scene in the Star Trek universe would go on to become an annual offering alongside the Star Trek ships and characters.
Check back next time as we WARP SPEED to #6 in our Top 10 Hallmark Star Trek ornaments of all time.
Hallmark Star Trek Ornaments 
Excellent pick—and THE Star Trek ornament worth getting the Legacy cord to keep operational on the tree. But “best hour in all of Star Trek television”? Have you even SEEN “The Doomsday Machine”?
Okay, okay, you did say “probably,” too. 😉
I am really enjoying this feature. Thanks for your time and efforts here!
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