GCB6A8 Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Museum

[+Cybercat]

Geocachers, this is a sad subject, but I've been thinking about my virtual cache at Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Museum. I visited with Barney last week and although he is in good shape and is still sharp as a tack, I know the day will come eventually when he will be gone. I asked him once what would become of all those toilet seats and he said his daughters had agreed to take them. The daughters live in Midland, Tx.

Most of you have signed the geocaching toilet seats.....( there are 4 now). I would love to have those when he passes on. I'm sure he would agree to let me take possession of them, but the question is........what would I do with them? I don't want them collecting dust in my garage or his daughter's garage, either........I want them to be somewhere where all geocachers can see them and relive the great memories we have shared there. What should I do? Please offer any suggestions..........Should I just let them go and let it all be just a great memory, or should I try and save them? Where would I put them?

[Dinoprophet]

Travel bugs

 

Edit: Or just hold onto them and bring them out for events.

Edited August 24, 2010 by Dinoprophet

[+BulldogBlitz]

find someone with some property, get a few of these:

 

 

make it a four stage multi.

 

[+geodarts]

I doubt if I could sell my wife on a trip to your area to see the Toilet Seat Museum. I would do it. In fact if the inevitable is going to happen, I would do it sooner rather than later. But I can't even get her interested in visiting Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska, or other roadside attractions unless they are close to where we happen to be.

 

The way things stand, even if the museum was moved they could not be made into a new virtual. But if people are signing the seats, perhaps they could be put some place as a traditional. I have signed baseballs and other objects, so a toilet seat would make a great log.

Edited August 24, 2010 by mulvaney

[+Snoogans]

Geocachers, this is a sad subject, but I've been thinking about my virtual cache at Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Museum. I visited with Barney last week and although he is in good shape and is still sharp as a tack, I know the day will come eventually when he will be gone. I asked him once what would become of all those toilet seats and he said his daughters had agreed to take them. The daughters live in Midland, Tx.

Most of you have signed the geocaching toilet seats.....( there are 4 now). I would love to have those when he passes on. I'm sure he would agree to let me take possession of them, but the question is........what would I do with them? I don't want them collecting dust in my garage or his daughter's garage, either........I want them to be somewhere where all geocachers can see them and relive the great memories we have shared there. What should I do? Please offer any suggestions..........Should I just let them go and let it all be just a great memory, or should I try and save them? Where would I put them?

 

I just recently signed Seat #4 and gave him some of my smashed coins.

 

Send them to Groundspeak HQ if you eventually get posession of them. 1 or 2 could go on display there and the rest can go out to the GPS Adventure's mazes traveling around the country.

 

NO NO NO Travel bugs that roam free to be lost or forgotten or stolen. NO WAY. Those tiolet seats are real folk art and possibly a national treasure considering the coverage he has gotten. They really belong in a proper museum after he's gone.

 

Barney will be around a long time IMO. He is only 89 and at his level of activity, that could translate to 10+ years before his demise.

 

I don't want to even think of actuarial stuff when it comes to Barney. Let's hope he and his wife live forever.

[+joukkusisu]

I doubt if I could sell my wife on a trip to your area to see the Toilet Seat Museum. I would do it. In fact if the inevitable is going to happen, I would do it sooner rather than later. But I can't even get her interested in visiting Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska, or other roadside attractions.

 

The way things stand, even if the museum was moved they could not be made into a new virtual. But if people are signing the seats, perhaps they could be put some place as a traditional. I have signed baseballs and other objects, so a toilet seat would make a great log.

 

Technically, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the signing of an object, such as a baseball or a wooden log (yuck yuck), didn't constitute a cache. The idea being that the log has to be contained within a larger container. So the toilet seats would work, if they were kept in a large container. An outhouse would be appropriately large enough, I would think.

[+geodarts]

Technically, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the signing of an object, such as a baseball or a wooden log (yuck yuck), didn't constitute a cache. The idea being that the log has to be contained within a larger container. So the toilet seats would work, if they were kept in a large container. An outhouse would be appropriately large enough, I would think.

 

Perhaps, although "container" can be a fairly broad term. It might be hard to find an outhouse where the seats would not be used for other purposes, or that would be suitable for four pieces of folk art, although if I lived in the area, I would be tempted to build one just for that purpose should it come down to that. I can think of any number of suitable containers that could be used. but it would be nice if the whole musuem could stay in tact.

 

Perhaps we need a geocaching museum for such things. If bigfoot can have several, then certainly there should be enough oddities in this game to put us on the roadside attraction list.

Edited August 24, 2010 by mulvaney

[+Snoogans]

I doubt if I could sell my wife on a trip to your area to see the Toilet Seat Museum. I would do it. In fact if the inevitable is going to happen, I would do it sooner rather than later. But I can't even get her interested in visiting Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska, or other roadside attractions.

 

The way things stand, even if the museum was moved they could not be made into a new virtual. But if people are signing the seats, perhaps they could be put some place as a traditional. I have signed baseballs and other objects, so a toilet seat would make a great log.

 

Technically, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the signing of an object, such as a baseball or a wooden log (yuck yuck), didn't constitute a cache. The idea being that the log has to be contained within a larger container. So the toilet seats would work, if they were kept in a large container. An outhouse would be appropriately large enough, I would think.

 

To clarify for folks that haven't been there.... There are over 1000 seats. 4 are dedicated to geocaching and another 5th seat is dedicated to Letterboxing.

 

Barney has received National coverage on The View, Montel, and several other TV shows as well as being documented in numerous publications including a cover of FTF Geocaching magazine and the way cool Uncle John's Bathroom Reader series. (The Texas issue.)

[+Semper Questio]

find someone with some property, get a few of these:

 

 

make it a four stage multi.

 

 

That was kinda what I was suggesting in our local forum. Put a non-fundtional one of these on a chunk of property and make it a large cache. The seats (hanging on the walls) are the sig log.

[+roziecakes]

I like the idea of taking them around to events and making them trackable like the OCB and the UOCB. I think that's a great way for everyone to enjoy them without them getting ruined

[+geodarts]

To clarify for folks that haven't been there.... There are over 1000 seats. 4 are dedicated to geocaching and another 5th seat is dedicated to Letterboxing.

 

Barney has received National coverage on The View, Montel, and several other TV shows as well as being documented in numerous publications including a cover of FTF Geocaching magazine and the way cool Uncle John's Bathroom Reader series. (The Texas issue.)

 

Yes. It is one of our national treasures which is why I hope they can find a new home when the time comes. My mind is still turning over ways that I could get there, but Texas is a difficult state for us.

[+Semper Questio]

 

< snip >

 

Send them to Groundspeak HQ if you eventually get posession of them. 1 or 2 could go on display there and the rest can go out to the GPS Adventure's mazes traveling around the country.

 

NO NO NO Travel bugs that roam free to be lost or forgotten or stolen. NO WAY.

 

< /snip>

 

 

I see where you're going with this, Snoog, and maybe I'm being a bit selfish, but I think they need to at least stay in Texas. It just seems that this has always been a "Texan thang" (esp. San Antone) and really ought to stay that way.

 

I could see them traveling to major events - especially if they were made a special part of the Texas Challenge and when GW comes to Texas, but I see no reason they should accompany the maze or go to Groundspeak. I just think they are about Barney, Texas, and Texas caching.

 

I'm not saying it well, but I'm sure you get what I'm sayin'.

 

And I completely agree about making them TB's. They'd most likely be gone in no time. There's a REASON the can of beans is escorted everywhere.

[mancicle]

 

< snip >

 

Send them to Groundspeak HQ if you eventually get posession of them. 1 or 2 could go on display there

 

< /snip>

 

 

that sounds about right

[+Snoogans]

My mind is still turning over ways that I could get there, but Texas is a difficult state for us.

 

Difficult for me too. That's why I spend my off time on the Left Coast.

 

Here's a camel's back breaker for ya. The Necropolis of Britainia Manor III cache by Lord British aka Richard Garriott is just 70 or so miles away. I did both on the same weekend. I honestly can't tell you which was better. They are both totally unique and totally awesome.

[+RandomH3ro]

find someone with some property, get a few of these:

 

 

make it a four stage multi.

 

 

That was kinda what I was suggesting in our local forum. Put a non-fundtional one of these on a chunk of property and make it a large cache. The seats (hanging on the walls) are the sig log.

off topic question, but what is the local forums url?

[+BulldogBlitz]

off topic question, but what is the local forums url?

 

the regular or the platinum?

[+Semper Questio]

That was kinda what I was suggesting in our local forum. Put a non-fundtional one of these on a chunk of property and make it a large cache. The seats (hanging on the walls) are the sig log.

off topic question, but what is the local forums url?

 

We gather at the CTGA Yahoo Group

[+NYPaddleCacher]

find someone with some property, get a few of these:

 

 

make it a four stage multi.

 

 

Anyone else thankful that Groundspeak instituted a ban on ALRs?

[+Hoop Prof]

Geocachers, this is a sad subject, but I've been thinking about my virtual cache at Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Museum. I visited with Barney last week and although he is in good shape and is still sharp as a tack, I know the day will come eventually when he will be gone. I asked him once what would become of all those toilet seats and he said his daughters had agreed to take them. The daughters live in Midland, Tx.

Most of you have signed the geocaching toilet seats.....( there are 4 now). I would love to have those when he passes on. I'm sure he would agree to let me take possession of them, but the question is........what would I do with them? I don't want them collecting dust in my garage or his daughter's garage, either........I want them to be somewhere where all geocachers can see them and relive the great memories we have shared there. What should I do? Please offer any suggestions..........Should I just let them go and let it all be just a great memory, or should I try and save them? Where would I put them?

 

First let me say that the Toilet Seat Museum is my all-time favorite virtual cache EVER! Barney is just incredible. I always tell people who are planning on visiting SA to go and see the place. I'm happy to hear Barney is still kicking, but I've often wondered the same thing...what will happen when he's gone? I had no idea he had geocaching seats for folks to sign. We were just in SA in July; had I known, I would have stopped by. I miss my SA caching people!

 

As for what to do with the caching seats, why not do something similar to what Barney did? Find someone willing to display the seats on their private property, a sort of "altar" to Barney, and have that site be the new cache. Are you allowed to keep it a virtual if you just change the coordinates and description or would you have to make it a physical cache to keep it legit?

 

Another thought: Could the seats be set into concrete and covered with some sort of urethane to preserve them? They could, in effect, become a sidewalk or wall.

 

With love from Baltimore,

Mary Jo

[+Snoogans]

 

< snip >

 

Send them to Groundspeak HQ if you eventually get posession of them. 1 or 2 could go on display there and the rest can go out to the GPS Adventure's mazes traveling around the country.

 

NO NO NO Travel bugs that roam free to be lost or forgotten or stolen. NO WAY.

 

< /snip>

 

 

I see where you're going with this, Snoog, and maybe I'm being a bit selfish, but I think they need to at least stay in Texas. It just seems that this has always been a "Texan thang" (esp. San Antone) and really ought to stay that way.

 

I could see them traveling to major events - especially if they were made a special part of the Texas Challenge and when GW comes to Texas, but I see no reason they should accompany the maze or go to Groundspeak. I just think they are about Barney, Texas, and Texas caching.

 

I'm not saying it well, but I'm sure you get what I'm sayin'.

 

And I completely agree about making them TB's. They'd most likely be gone in no time. There's a REASON the can of beans is escorted everywhere.

 

I get you.

 

I asked Barney if a Historian had ever cataloged his art. His answer was, "No, never."

 

Honestly, I'd like to see the collection get real museum space in his lifetime if he'd allow it to happen. Or for him to will the collection to a museum so it could remain unbroken and appreciated for the true folk art that it is for generations to come.

 

A place like the Buckhorn Museum & Saloon comes to mind or some other site in San Antonio that gets lots of visitors.

 

I would hate to see his collection go dark after his death and I truly believe that could be a long time off if his wife's health stays good as well. If she were to pass away it would take the entire community and his art work for him to realize the full potential of his lifespan after that loss. They have been married almost 71 years.

 

Does anyone know a Historian that is in the area or one that would be willing to travel to San Antonio to catalog and document Barney's work for future use by a Museum?

 

Barney is extremely detailed and organized. I made note of how everything was arranged right down to his craft supplies. It wouldn't be a monumental undertaking, but it could take months to cover all 1000+ pieces with him. His work spans 45+ years.

[+hrothroc]

RIP Barney Smith, creator of the Toilet Seat Art Museum. He passed away only a few weeks after cutting the ribbon at his toilet seats' new Texas home. He was 98 
https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/6166

[+Snoogans]

On August 24, 2010 at 10:59 AM, Snoogans said:

 

I just recently signed Seat #4 and gave him some of my smashed coins.

 

Send them to Groundspeak HQ if you eventually get posession of them. 1 or 2 could go on display there and the rest can go out to the GPS Adventure's mazes traveling around the country.

 

NO NO NO Travel bugs that roam free to be lost or forgotten or stolen. NO WAY. Those tiolet seats are real folk art and possibly a national treasure considering the coverage he has gotten. They really belong in a proper museum after he's gone.

 

Barney will be around a long time IMO. He is only 89 and at his level of activity, that could translate to 10+ years before his demise.

 

I don't want to even think of actuarial stuff when it comes to Barney. Let's hope he and his wife live forever.

Well, that was almost prophetic.

Barney was a truly wonderful human being. I'm proud to have known him and  had my coins included in one of his works of art.

Meeting him was one of the best experiences I ever had geocaching. 

He was one of a kind and a great loss to the community whether you knew him or not.

[+instep_guy]

RIP Barney. We visited with Barney last summer and he was still sharp as a tack and a joy to talk with. If anyone recorded his "story" please share it!

 

Edited: His "story" concerns being assigned to memorize Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “When Earth’s Last Picture Is Painted,”  in the 5th grade. He could still recite it from memory!

 

 

Edited July 25, 2019 by instep_guy
additional info added

[+hzoi]

I'm so sorry to hear that he's gone.  But what a life he lived.  I'm just glad we got the chance to meet him twice and tour his museum with its creator as our guide.

[+captnemo]

RIP Barney,  my wife and I visited him at his museum in 2013 a high lite on a cross country trip.  We spent a lot of time with him as he showed us his wonderful art.  

 

 

[+Mudfrog]

Bizzyb and I had the opportunity to stop by Barney's museum a few years back. Was a great pleasure meeting and talking with Barney for our approximately 2 hour tour. It was definitely a memorable and favorite caching experience for me. I knew the time would eventually come for him to pass but it's still a shock to get this news today.

 

Our prayers go out to his family,,,  Rest In Peace!