The Beer Can House

Tom, myself and the TravelingDogs traveled to MA for the holidays with a plan.  I wanted to see the largest ball of twine and Tom wanted to see the Beer Can House in Houston, Texas.  In honor of Beer Can Appreciation Day, January 24th, I offer this montage of the world renowned house built to the ire of the owner's neighbors.

As you head towards the house, off the highway, you find yourself in a fairly tight neighborhood.  We often stop at the roadside attractions that we run across as we travel around the country.  Most are in open spaces or in the middle of nowhere.  As you can tell from the pictures above and below, this was simply a house surrounded by other houses.

We parked the car on the street after finding an open space.  The Beer Can House was busy with lots of tourists coming from all around the world.  Foreign languages were heard from the peoples coming and going and the license plates told us that this was a unique destination for people driving through.

John Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad started the project in 1968.  He started to inlay marbles, rocks and metal pieces into concrete in order to avoid mowing the grass.  Once the front and back yards were covered, he started to side his house with aluminum cans, beer cans.  John drank ALL of the beer needed, estimated at 50,000 cans, to produce the unique and decorative aluminum siding covering his house and outbuilding.

What's your favorite choice?

Beer Bottles and Beer Cans Wall

Gift Shop and Admissions

Snipped Beer Cans can form some amazing Art

The house was covered from foundation to roof.

John Milkovisch with a beer, of course!

When you pay admission, you are allowed to enter the house.  It is quite modest, but what does stick out are the creations made from aluminum.  There are also changes which he made to the house.

Aluminum Tapestry

Cat Swatter?

A floor with individually cut tile within tile.

A selection of Aluminum

Definitely a 60's/70's feel in the house.

Deep in the Heart of Texas!

Using everything.

The shimmer in the sun was brilliant!

Great symmetry in all of the pieces.

And so it begins in 1968.

Live by Golden Rule at 222 Malone in Houston, Texas!

Luther at the Beer Can House

Tom and the TravelingDogs 

David and the TravelingDogs

It was a great visit to the Beer Can House.  The house is now under the care of the Orange Show for Visionary Art.  Admission is $2 and is open Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 5:00 PM.  Check it out and tell them the TravelingDogs sent you!  Bottoms up!