Umbrella museum creator releases book

A new book titled, “Uncovered and Exposed! A Guide to the World’s Only Umbrella Cover Museum” is being released on August 6 and 7, the author announced.

Nancy Hoffman, the author and curator of the museum, said in a news release that the book "gives a close-up look at Peaks Island’s quirky gem of a museum."

Started in 1996, the museum now houses over 700 covers from 41 countries. Hoffman said the mission of the museum is to “celebrate the mundane."

"The book is as whimsical as the museum," she said. "It is fully illustrated with the history of this unique museum and lots of color pictures of umbrella covers and their stories."

International press has followed The Umbrella Cover Museum since its inception in 1996. NPR and BBC Radio have done stories on the eccentric collection and its curator, whose middle name is the number “3.” Recent media attention includes being chosen by USA Today as one of “10 great places to go through the looking glass.” Most exciting and appropriate is a spot on The Weather Channel’s show “Cantore Stories — Maine Characters,” which can be viewed at the Peaks Island Museum.

Book signings will be held on Friday, Aug. 6, at The Green Hand Bookshop, 661 Congress St. in Portland, from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Aug. 7 at The Umbrella Cover Museum, 62-B Island Avenue, Peaks Island, from 4 to 8 p.m.

For information, call 939-0301, e-mail 3nancy3@gmail.com, or go to www.umbrellacovermuseum.org.