An entire museum devoted to umbrella covers? Just the covers? You mean those little sleeves that cover the folded umbrella when you buy it? Yup, that’s it. The world’s first – and only—Umbrella Cover Museum is the passion of one Nancy 3. Hoffman, a musician from Peak’s Island, a 20-minute ferry ride from Portland, ME. Nancy got the idea for the museum when she was cleaning out closets and came across seven umbrella covers. Curious as to what others do with their covers, she started asking around. Now, years later, she’s accumulated enough covers, and enough umbrella cover trivia, to open her own museum. She has 400 of the things, from 32 countries, and folks from around the world keep sending her more. They range in size from a two and a half inch Barbie doll cover to a six-foot patio umbrella sleeve. Nancy has dedicated the museum to the appreciation of the mundane in everyday life. “It’s about finding wonder and beauty in the simplest of things,” she says, “ and about knowing that there is always a story behind the cover”. Amen.

Umbrella Cover Museum. 62-B Island Avenue, Peaks Island, ME 04108; [207 766 4496]; web: www.umbrellacovermuseum.org . Open summers only; contact for exact dates and times. Directions: Take the Casco Bay Lines ferry to Peaks Island. From the dock, walk up the hill to the first street (Island Avenue) and turn left.