Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum

Art museum · The Colony ·

Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum

Art museum · The Colony ·

Art museum with 1000+ decorated toilet seats, live music, yard games

Information

5959 Grove Ln, The Colony, TX 75056 Get directions

@atlasobscura

4,908 Postcards · 2,018 Cities

The Ultimate List of Wonderfully Specific Museums

"Started by a retired master plumber, Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum is an ever-growing collection of artfully decorated bathroom castoffs that show off the more whimsical side of a notoriously dirty fixture. Covering every inch of the museum’s walls and even hanging from the rafters are toilet seats and lids decorated with all manner of mixed media (save fecal matter, thankfully). Smith was inspired by his father (also a master plumber) who had a penchant for mounting plaques and trophies. Smith noticed a similarity between the mounting boards and the toilet seats he worked with every day, and soon began collecting used seats that he would then paint or adorn with bright trinkets. Working in his garage, the space filled up over the years with his creations and once the local media caught on to his idiosyncratic arts, the attention was great enough that Smith decided to open it as a “museum” to anyone who wanted to take a look at his toilet seats. The gracious and welcoming Smith is happy to show off his garage collection to anyone interested enough to drop by. He even encourages visitors to bring in their own toilet seats since he prolific enough to always be running out. If someone does bring in a seat that he ends up using, Smith will engrave the donator’s name on the seat so that future generations will know where it came from. Smith is getting on in the years, but unlike many outsider artists, he has taken measures to preserve his artistic collection. Not only has his daughter agreed to look after the works when he passes, but the Bemis Company, one of the leading manufacturers of toilet seats has said that they would like to move the entire collection into their headquarters. Update: June 2019. The collection has been moved to Dallas, Texas. Update: January 2020: The collection now resides at the Truck Yard." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/the-ultimate-list-of-wonderfully-specific-museums

Photo by Abi Inman (Used with permission)

Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

Truck Yard Acquires San Antonio Toilet Seat Museum for New Location | Eater Dallas

"Created over roughly 70 years by 97-year-old artist and retired master plumber Barney Smith working from his San Antonio home, this famed toilet-seat collection comprises about 1,400 seats embellished with feathers, antlers, and everyday household objects. Originally displayed on-site at his house in Alamo Heights and visited by people from around the world, the entire assemblage was sold intact to a buyer who will relocate and house it at a new bar location in The Colony." - Alaena Hostetter

https://dallas.eater.com/2018/11/28/18116443/truck-yard-toilet-seat-museum-the-colony

Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum

Brandon M.

Google

I SO highly recommend this truly one-of-kind stop to anyone anywhere near the area! I will mostly let the pictures speak for themselves, but if there is anything even remotely similar to this anywhere else in the world, I certainly have not heard about it. The creativity on display is truly next level and just goes on and on along every vertical surface (and a fair amount of the horizonal/ceiling as well) of the room. Honestly, if one were to endeavor to truly take in each and every super-unique seat/display, you'd probably have to visit every day for several weeks to do so; so I'd certainly plan for at least a few hours here if you want to really appreciate the full glory of what's on display! Side note: the museum is a bit tucked away above a bar in a truck yard, so just know going in that it can be a bit tricky to figure out exactly where you need to go to get to the museum itself. But if you get to the yard, and then find the bar, you should be able to figure it out fairly easily from there (or just ask someone), especially in today's era of do-it-all phones... which you will also DEFINITELY want on hand to take gobs of pictures of all of the awesome, quirky, super-fun things you will see!

Jen Jones (Jen L.

Google

So fun! I've been wanting to go for a couple years. We went during lunch on a weekday. Not many people but the live music was great, there were 4 food trucks or you could scan a QR code and order from the table. Lots of table options. There is a elevator to get up to the toilet seat museum. Its one the manager has to turn the key to give access to and kinda hidden but just ask the bar downstairs. Lots of interesting toilet seats!

Nicholas L.

Google

Interesting quirky place. Seems more like a night time place to visit family visited during the day. It would seem that this place would be a great place for 23- late 30's crowd at night. During the day it is good for families. It looks like they have the ability to change out food trucks.

Kristy J.

Google

I was shocked at how much genuine history is chronicled here! I teach history, and I had no idea that this unassuming museum was where a piece of Saddam Hussein’s toilet was, or parts of the challenger or the Berlin Wall, or bullets from Appomattox?! Soooo cool! Then there’s live music, lots of yard games, and great beer and ginger beer just outside.

Christian S.

Google

Quite possibly my favorite museum I've ever been to. First it's FREE. Second, it has my two favorite things, beer and history. If you are anywhere near the Metroplex it's a MUST GO. So many interesting things with a lively bar right outside and underneath. Thank you Barney , this was amazing and thank you Truck Pit for giving it a home. Peace and love and blessings to you Barney Smith!

Taylor H.

Google

This was one of the coolest and most unique museums I have ever been too! I honestly did not know what to expect when I heard about it, and seeing it in person was just awesome. So much time, effort, and passion put into this art. I love seeing people take the unloved and weird items and turn them into something more special. Like the saying goes: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” How true. Loved learning about the artist Barney Smith and glad we are able to enjoy his work. Can’t wait to take friends to this place!! 🚽

Mike S.

Google

How unique. Many aspects on the property were surprisingly very cool. The more you look, the more you'll find. Too many to see in one visit. Take binoculars, the ceiling mounted ones are hard to see. Plan a few hours, the atmosphere at the barn yard will have you staying a while.

Amanda I.

Google

Great little museum! So much to look at and the museum was immaculate. My family really enjoyed it. My son didn’t have any interest in going initially but when we got there he was totally engaged in all of the art works. Super cool place and love that you can enjoy a beer from the bar downstairs while checking out all the different toilet seat art. We will for sure go again.

Pamela S.

Yelp

He was an awesome artist. Go get dome bbq & see a band while there. I had met him in San Antonio when you had to make an appointment to see his artwork. I helped the gofundme for a signed book and a postcard. I'm glad he was able to see the museum open before he died.