Have you ever walked a foot path and stopped to pick up an interesting rock, a bottle or bottle caps, pottery shards or any other junk? John Preble has and from them he has created unique items for his museum. The USC Museum (pronounced you-see-em mu-se-um) located in the small town of Abita Springs, Louisiana was created by John and his wife Ann O'Brien. As a young man of ebullient enterprise he had so many career interests that his friends had an amusing business card printed for him. The card listed some two dozen of his then current pursuits - artist, potter, art instructor, antique shop owner, beekeeper, personality profiler, musician, carpenter, politician, real estate salesperson, computer consultant, graphic designer, publisher, film maker, festival promoter and entrepreneur. Visitors to his offbeat environment can see his different skills in one fascinating place - the UCM Museum.

The museum consists of a vintage service station, a 90 year old Louisiana Creole cottage, an exhibition hall of memorabilia and the beautiful House of Shards. You will see incredible handmade animated scenes of Southern life including a Mardi Gras parade, a New Orleans jazz funeral, a rhythm and blues dance hall, a haunted Southern plantation and much more. Visitors are encouraged to press buttons to bring the exhibits to life. Lurking in a side yard is Buford - the Bassiagtor, a 24 foot combination fish and gator. Buford watches over an Airstream travel trailer that was hit by a flying saucer.

The gift shop's ceiling is plastered with electronic circuit boards while airplanes constructed from coke cans fly overhead. The exhibition hall contains many collections including combs, unusual post cards, paint-by-number masterpieces, arcade games and too many other items to mention. A vintage bicycle collection is housed in the House of Shards.

John is an artist known for his beautiful paintings of Creole women. Visit him in his studio, an old Creole cottage, watch him paint and purchase one of his framed masterpieces. Ann is a jeweler with her beautiful work on display and for sale in the gift shop.

The UCM Museum is located on Highway 36 in Abita Spings, Louisiana, one block east of the town's only traffic light. It is a one hour's drive north of New Orleans and just a few miles north of I-12.

Website for UCM Museum - http://ucmmuseum.com
Website for Ann O'Brien's jewelry - http://aobjewelry.com
The Unofficial guide to tourism in Louisiana - http://seelouisiana.com