Admire this shimmering spectacle. This is the Beer Can House. Houstonian John Milkovisch began transforming his home in 1968. He used beer cans, bottles, and other beer paraphernalia. The Beer Can House is now a Houston icon.
Milkovisch worked for nearly two decades on his creation. It stands at 222 Malone Street. The Beer Can House is covered in flattened beer cans and bottle caps. Other beer-related items add to the decor. Experts estimate over 50000 beer cans make up the Beer Can House.
Milkovisch started by inlaying materials into concrete. He used marbles, rocks, brass figures, and metal pieces. These formed patios, fences, and flower boxes. The entire yard became cement. John Milkovisch said he did it because he “got sick of mowing the grass.”
Garlands of cut beer cans hang from the roof edges. They sing in the wind. They also lowered the family’s energy bills.
John Milkovisch worked as an upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad. He retired and then started his beer can project. He considered it an enjoyable pastime. He enjoyed people’s reactions to his creations. He once said, “It tickles me to watch people screech to a halt.” He noticed some got embarrassed. Some drove around the block a couple of times. Later, they returned with friends.
Milkovisch used many different types of beer cans. He drank the beer himself. His neighbors and his wife, Mary, also helped. His favorite beer was “Whatever’s on special.”
John Milkovisch suffered a stroke in 1987. He passed away in 1988. His wife continued to live in the house. She passed away in the 1990s.
The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art acquired the Beer Can House in 2001. The organization preserves works of extraordinary imagination. It provides opportunities for people to express artistic vision.
The Beer Can House faced deterioration. The surrounding neighborhood changed. Real estate prices rose. New developments dwarfed the Beer Can House. This changed its visual and historical context. It also affected environmental conditions.
The Orange Show board decided to preserve the site. They chose to maintain the integrity of its history and location. Major conservation efforts happened in 2007. Site conservation is ongoing.
The Beer Can House endures as an architectural and artistic treasure. It connects the neighborhood’s past with its future.
Today, you can visit the Beer Can House. It is open Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m. Admission is five dollars. Children under 12 are free.
The Beer Can House stands as a testament to recycling. It also shows one man’s unique vision. It exemplifies the pleasures of a frosty beer.