You-See-Em Museum in Abita Springs
By LISA HALVORSEN AND SAMANTHA CHAPNICK
The UCM Museum (pronounced You-see-'em Mu-zee-um), spilling out of a circa 1915 Standard Oil service station into several outbuildings, calls itself the most eccentric museum in Louisiana.
That's a claim it wins hands down.
Located in Abita Springs, one block east of the town's only traffic light, this museum, also known as the Abita Mystery House, features a hodge-podge of exhibits from what is politely called "collections."
Postcards, pocket combs, and paint-by-numbers art.
A House of Shards: a stucco cottage covered with bits of broken glass, tiles, and mirrors that houses a vintage bicycle collection.
Life-size extraterrestrial invaders living in a classic Airstream travel trailer, their crashed flying saucer embedded in its side, as well as other unusual creatures including Darrel, the dogigator, that's part dog, part alligator.
The museum appears to operate on the premise of one man's trash is another man's treasure.
That's a claim it wins hands down.
Located in Abita Springs, one block east of the town's only traffic light, this museum, also known as the Abita Mystery House, features a hodge-podge of exhibits from what is politely called "collections."
Postcards, pocket combs, and paint-by-numbers art.
A House of Shards: a stucco cottage covered with bits of broken glass, tiles, and mirrors that houses a vintage bicycle collection.
Life-size extraterrestrial invaders living in a classic Airstream travel trailer, their crashed flying saucer embedded in its side, as well as other unusual creatures including Darrel, the dogigator, that's part dog, part alligator.
The museum appears to operate on the premise of one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Owner-artist John Preble used more than 50,000 recycled objects (a.k.a. junk) to create many of his displays from his whirligigs of old bicycle parts to his mechanized miniature dioramas. Although he insists that the initials U.C.M. don't stand for anything, for those visitors who need an explanation, he offers Unusual Collections and Mini-town, which nicely sums up what the venue features.
From the outside, this offbeat museum resembles any one of dozens of abandoned gas stations that dot the landscape of the rural South. But don't let appearances fool you. This unassuming structure is full of unusual collections and whimsical exhibits.
When you walk through the front door, don't get confused as many visitors do. This is not the museum, only the gift shop with its eclectic selection of serious, wacky, and unique items for purchase.
Exit out the back, leaving the gift shop for last, and follow the path to the old barn that serves as the main exhibit hall where none other than "the King" greets you. The shrine to Elvis sits atop a vintage red and white Coca-Cola cooler flanked by a Willkommen sign.
Preble's artistic eye lends order to the seemingly random assemblage of found and donated items that he's arranged on the walls, floors, and even ceilings of his exhibit space. As you wander through the museum, you'll find old radios, displays of barbed wire and license plates, and trophy fish, including Leroy, the large mouth bass who sports a full set of dentures. You can test your playing skills on the old arcade machines or get your fortune told by a coin-operated voodoo priestess.
Miniature vignettes of Southern life, poking fun at Louisiana traditions, events, and everyday life, come to life with the push of a button. Look carefully at the Mardi Gras parade, and you may spot Martians in the crowd. Lil Dub's BBQ and filling station invites you to eat here and get gas. You'll also find a Southern plantation sitting next to an oil refinery and a redneck trailer park, just moments after a tornado hits.
Among the most popular attractions is Buford, the 22-foot long bassigator located outside the main building. Originally built as a Mardi Gras parade prop, this half-fish, half-alligator creature now has a permanent home at the museum.
The UCM Museum's unconventional curator is a work of art himself. With his startling shock of white hair and wacky demeanor, he's as much photographed as are the exhibits. Although Preble sampled various careers from beekeeper to festival promoter and potter before becoming chief inventor and director of his own museum, he's also a serious artist. Check out his work at his small studio in a century-old Creole house set amongst the aliens' Airstream and the mosaic-tiled house.
As you leave the museum, stop at the small man-made pond that's home to the red bean-eating turtle. Yell, "Wake up, you bum!" and watch what happens next.
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The UCM Museum, open daily (except major holidays) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is located at 2275 Highway 36, Abita Springs, Louisiana. Admission is $3 for adults and children 3 and older. For more information, call (985) 892-2624 or visit www.ucmmuseum.com.
From the outside, this offbeat museum resembles any one of dozens of abandoned gas stations that dot the landscape of the rural South. But don't let appearances fool you. This unassuming structure is full of unusual collections and whimsical exhibits.
When you walk through the front door, don't get confused as many visitors do. This is not the museum, only the gift shop with its eclectic selection of serious, wacky, and unique items for purchase.
Exit out the back, leaving the gift shop for last, and follow the path to the old barn that serves as the main exhibit hall where none other than "the King" greets you. The shrine to Elvis sits atop a vintage red and white Coca-Cola cooler flanked by a Willkommen sign.
Preble's artistic eye lends order to the seemingly random assemblage of found and donated items that he's arranged on the walls, floors, and even ceilings of his exhibit space. As you wander through the museum, you'll find old radios, displays of barbed wire and license plates, and trophy fish, including Leroy, the large mouth bass who sports a full set of dentures. You can test your playing skills on the old arcade machines or get your fortune told by a coin-operated voodoo priestess.
Miniature vignettes of Southern life, poking fun at Louisiana traditions, events, and everyday life, come to life with the push of a button. Look carefully at the Mardi Gras parade, and you may spot Martians in the crowd. Lil Dub's BBQ and filling station invites you to eat here and get gas. You'll also find a Southern plantation sitting next to an oil refinery and a redneck trailer park, just moments after a tornado hits.
Among the most popular attractions is Buford, the 22-foot long bassigator located outside the main building. Originally built as a Mardi Gras parade prop, this half-fish, half-alligator creature now has a permanent home at the museum.
The UCM Museum's unconventional curator is a work of art himself. With his startling shock of white hair and wacky demeanor, he's as much photographed as are the exhibits. Although Preble sampled various careers from beekeeper to festival promoter and potter before becoming chief inventor and director of his own museum, he's also a serious artist. Check out his work at his small studio in a century-old Creole house set amongst the aliens' Airstream and the mosaic-tiled house.
As you leave the museum, stop at the small man-made pond that's home to the red bean-eating turtle. Yell, "Wake up, you bum!" and watch what happens next.
---
The UCM Museum, open daily (except major holidays) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is located at 2275 Highway 36, Abita Springs, Louisiana. Admission is $3 for adults and children 3 and older. For more information, call (985) 892-2624 or visit www.ucmmuseum.com.
