Tuesday, July 3, 2012

 Largest collection of umbrella covers: The Umbrella Cover Museum sets world record (PICS & VIDEO)

Peaks Island, ME, USA -- The Umbrella Cover Museum from Peaks Island, Maine - the only one in the world - museum founder Nancy 3. Hoffman, has over 700 umbrella sleeves from nearly 50 countries , setting the world record for the Largest collection of umbrella covers, according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/.

  Photo: "Intern Luke showing off the rows of umbrella covers we are creating'" says museum founder Nancy Hoffman. ( enlarge photo )

The Guinness world record for the largest umbrella mosaic consisted of 2,115 participants and was achieved by the Southern Highlands Youth Arts Council Inc. (Australia), at Bradman Oval Bowral, in New South Wales, Australia.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the largest umbrella measures 17.06 m (56 ft) in diameter and is 10.97 m (36 ft) tall and was made by Max New York Life Insurance (India). The umbrella was unveiled at Ishanya Mall at Pune, India.

  "The museum is not only about collecting umbrella covers. It's about finding a way to slow down and see the beauty in what may on first glance appear to be a mundane or silly item," says museum founder Nancy 3. Hoffman, who opened the museum in 1996.

  Hoffman, who recently authored the book, "Uncovered And Exposed, A Guide to the World's Only Umbrella Cover Museum," says umbrella covers (also known as sleeves or slipcovers) are being replaced these days with plastic covers instead of traditional fabric.

  She believes this is why the museum's unique recycling/preservation approach is becoming increasingly important.

   An eclectic mix of umbrella covers adorns the museum's walls and ceiling. They range from a Japanese mini-spa cover with an internal massaging pod to a cover made from discarded gum wrappers.

 ( enlarge photo )

  Most covers in the collection are donations from people who visited or heard about the museum.

  One of Hoffman's fondest cover memories came from an American contractor in Iraq who got caught in a bizarre rain and hail storm in Baghdad.

  He had brought a green umbrella with him and while the umbrella soon succumbed to the tirade of the storm, the cover made it back to the U.S. where it now stands proudly in the museum's collection.

 "The museum is about covers from ordinary people like you and me, so anyone can help us count on July 7," says Hoffman.