Beer Can House

John Milkovisch was a retired upholsterer from the Southern Pacific Railroad who hated to mow the lawn. From this dislike of lawn work, a unique folk art experience, the Beer Can House, was born.

Beginning in 1968, John began pouring concrete on his lawn, creating patterns decorated with marbles. Once the yard was transformed, John moved on to the house, using beer cans to create fences, siding and ceilings, mainly as something to do. This project lasted nearly twenty years.

The Beer Can House is now covered with roughly 39,000 beer cans and is an unusual work of art. The home is currently owned by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, and is open for visitors every Saturday and Sunday. The house was recently restored in 2008.

I visited the house for the first time in September, 2009. Admission is $2.00 for self-guided tours and $5.00 for a guided tours. Staff are very friendly and a gift shop is included on the grounds.

If you are in Houston, the Beer Can House is creative. The grounds of this house are extremely interesting and inside the home is a small museum along with a video detailing how the project began. I recommend a stop if you are in the area as this home is unique.