Why take the family to Hawaii when there are a slew of unusual destinations, like the Toilet Seat Art Museum waiting to be discovered?

In the ninth part of a multi-part series, KHTS uncovers unusual destinations Santa Clarita families can travel to for their “quirky” vacation.

The museum showcases the life’s work of Barney Smith, who created over 1400 art pieces out of toilet seats over the course of many decades and passed away in 2019.  

In 1921, Barney was born into a family of plumbers in Eastland, Texas. Barney was artistically gifted. “I did more artwork growing up than Charles Schulz did. I had the funny papers plastered all over my walls at my mother’s house.” But he ended up in the family business. “I was born on a plumbing truck,” Barney jokes.

Barney opened the original museum in 1992 in a large garage in his Texas backyard. His museum was beloved by San Antonio locals and tourists, garnering national and international attention.

The back walls of the Toilet Seat Art Museum are filled with labeled shoe boxes of buttons, gewgaws and other elements for his projects. He innovates as he goes, such as using old aluminum pie pans to rub impressions of belt buckles and coins for placement on the toilets. None of his art is for sale.

“I’d like to be remembered for how a person could save a lot of stuff that is being destroyed [and] for showing them it needs to be saved – maybe not on a toilet seat, but they can save what has come their way instead of destroying it. Showing that it’s worth something,” said Smith. 

This museum is free and open to the public during business hours. NOTE: On occasion, the museum will be rented for private parties and may be unavailable for viewing.

Here is last week’s quirky destination – The Unclaimed Baggage Store.

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