If you drive through the Rice Military neighborhood you might see an unusual sight: the Beer Can House! Located at 222 Malone, this Houston landmark was created by John Milkovisch starting in 1968. He spent the next 20 years working on it and it’s now part of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. You might be wondering what, exactly, is the Beer Can House. Well, it’s a house that is covered almost entirely in beer cans! Over 50,000 cans in fact!
Flattened beer cans cover the walls while strings of can bottoms, tops and pull tabs hang from the roof. Not only do these strands create an interesting visual effect, they also act as wind chimes and sound surprisingly nice! Even the fences are made from bottoms, tops, and whole cans.
Beer cans are not the only embellishments that have been added to the property. The concrete and wood have been inlaid with marbles, rocks, and bits of metal, all of which add to the unique character of the house.
It is, of course, free to drive by the Beer Can House at any time. If you’d like to take a closer look though, the property is open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 5PM. Admission is $5/person (ages 12 & under are free).
The Beer Can House is a testament to one man’s vision, dedication, and beer-drinking ability (although his wife and neighbors didn’t mind helping!) and I highly recommend you check out this quirky bit of Houston history!
Contributed by Shanna
No comments yet.