Beer Can House Cracks Open a Cold One for Houston
One man's 6-pack is just another man's castle...
From 1968 to his death in 1988, John Milkovisch had 8-10 cases of beer stacked in the garage. Rather than pitching them, he outfitted his house with them.
He may actually be responsible (in part) for pioneering the recycling revolution.
Beer Can HouseHe emptied more than 50,000 cans of his favorite adult beverage - Falstaff was top choice - and then furnished his house, workshop and awnings with a maintenance-free exterior.
Although the house has been known to locals for generations as the Beer Can House, it's soon to be a tourist hot-spot. Houston Mayor Bill White officially opened the folk art monument to the public yesterday. The city bought the house from the Milkovisch family and spent 7 years and $400,000 restoring it.
"Most people who take the lead in doing something truly innovative are considered a little bit crazy," said Mayor White.
Inside the Beer Can House, a quote from Mr. Milkovisch hangs on a wall. "They say every man should leave something to be remembered by. At least I accomplished that goal."
But the Beer Can House isn't Houston's wackiest spectacle. The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art grew out of one man's fixation with his favorite citrus. From 1956 to his death in 1980, Jeff McKissack, a Houston postman, built a maze of connected walkways, chambers and balconies. All in honor of his beloved orange.
Marilyn Oshman, an art philanthropist in Houston, said it's not accident these eccentric artists find a home here. "One good thing about not having any zoning is you can do stuff."
Both structures will set you back a buck a tour.
Got plans to see the Beer Can House this weekend?
