The Beer Can House, a Houston Art Treasure in Texas
83If you love folk art and either live in Houston, Texas or plan to visit, put this address of the Beer Can House on your list of places to visit. It is a Houston treasure!
The Beer Can House at 222 Malone Street has been drawing hoards of visitors ever since John Milkovisch, the owner of the property, started his eccentric embellishments of his property in what used to be a middle class neighborhood.
You can read more details by clicking on some of the links ( and for sure, check out the video! ), but suffice it to say that John liked his beer. He started collecting the empties of his six pack a day personal consumption and collapsing them and storing them in his garage.
He was retired from the upholstery business for Southern Pacific and he decided that mowing the grass and painting his house for regular maintenance was not something he enjoyed doing.
So his creativity started with getting rid of his grass by putting down concrete and artistically placing thousands of marbles, stones and other collected and "found" materials into the concrete for aesthetic reasons. This even included utilizing things like doorknobs!
His neighbors were probably amused but had no idea just how far this man's ideas would continue to blossom and evolve.
Beer Can House in Houston, Texas
Photos of the creator, John Milkovisch
Beer Can House in Houston, TX
Houston's Beer Can House
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Quite the eccentric man and possessed of a great sense of humor, it was reported that when he would go to the beach in Galveston, he would put a pipe fitted with a faucet into the sand and sit nearby eating his picnic lunch. He would lie in wait for visitors to try and get some water from the tap!
Mr. Milkovisch started to overlay the boards of the house with flattened beer cans of every brand and description.
It was a colorful mix of whatever happened to be on sale in the grocery stores. He did mix in a few soda cans for good measure, but the vast majority of his cans came from recycled beer cans.
He started from the bottom up and his wife kept admonishing him to stop, but stop he did not. Eventually the entire house was covered with beer cans and the fence, mailbox and sculptures in the yard of every size and description did not escape his attention.
One can often "hear" the house prior to seeing it as the wind chimes made out of can tops and pulls make a tinkling sound when the wind blows. This also functioned as offering additional shade for the Milkovisch's when sitting on their front porch.
The inside of the house was left to Mary Milkovisch to decorate.
Apparently she liked it feminine and filled with bric-a-brac. It must have been quite a contrast between the outside of the house and the inside!
As time evolved, and as word of this folk art house spread, more and more people started driving by and photographing the house. When the Milkovisch's still lived there, they took this activity in good stride as did the neighbors.
Since the owners are now both deceased, Houston's Orange Show Foundation purchased the Beer Can House with the intent of preserving this folk art monument.
They intend to maintain the house in as close to its original shape as possible.
The house is now open for weekend tours and a donation box is available for people who wish to support the effort of maintenance of this unique site for future tourists who seek out unique sights such as this.
When my husband and I were visiting the last time, the grandson of the Milkovisch's was there leading people through the house and yard and answering people's queries about his grandparents.
Houston's Beer can house
Beer Cans
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Houston's Beer Can House
Beer can house in Houston, Texas
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Recycling to the "nth" degree!
John Milkovisch took recycling to a whole new level!
As you now know, he used every type of object besides his beer cans to create this now famous Beer Can House in Houston.
We get the biggest kick of our showing our visitors this site.
Of all the wonderful things in and around Houston, Texas to enjoy and photograph, without exception.....the Beer Can House always goes home with them as a photographic memory of their trip here.
Now, for you beer lovers out there.....do you think that you can top John Milkovisch's recycling efforts?
Be sure and visit the Beer Can House in Houston, Texas for some recycling ideas of your own. You just might create your own unique treasure!
Recycling cans
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A little added humor? :-)
Would you enjoy living next to the Beer Can House?
See results without votingThe Beer Can House location...
222 Malone, Houston, Texas 77007 - 
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CommentsLoading...
Odd and strange things do attract me, but I find myself reviewing a house that is covered in beer cans…
Hello alocsin,
Personally I would describe the Beer Can House as unusual and interesting folk art. Beautiful? Well...as they say, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Ha!
As to the lack of zoning, I don't know if all of Texas is like that, but certainly great big areas of Houston are. In subdivisions some have more stringent property association bylaws than others which would prevent this type of house. Thanks for your comment and votes.
What an unusual house. I'm told this is only possible because they don't really have house zoning standards in Texas? As beautiful as this is, it would never be allowed here in Southern California. Voting this Up and Beautiful.
Hello mary-deo,
The Beer Can House is certainly unique and as they say..."Art is in the eye of the beholder." Appreciate your comment.
Hi LadyLyell,
Our subdivision in which we live would not allow such alterations to one's house. We even have to have paint colors approved. This is in a part of Houston (and there are many!) with no deed restrictions. It is also a part of the city where the old houses around it are being replaced by large new ones. The Beer Can House reigns as a folk art attraction. Thanks for your comment.
Hi SanneL,
I agree with you in that Mr. Milkovisch must have been not only eccentric but probably very fun to be around. Thanks for your comment and sharing of Houston's Beer Can House.
Hello biancaalice,
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the photos of the Beer Can House. It is certainly an attraction in Houston! :))
Wow! what else can I say but simply amazing,maybe those home owners are fun of drinking beers :) but then its really artistic at the same time good way of recycling. Very inspirational hub. Voted this up!
I couldn't believe my eye's seeing the photos of this somewhat weird house!!!
The video was interesting.
Glad this house is not in my street.
It takes all types, hey!
What an unusual way to go green! Lol!
John Milkovisch sounds like he was a fun man to be around. Just the thought to put a faucet into the sand and then would lie in wait for visitors to try and get some water from the tap, is just hilarious. I enjoyed watching the video and reading about this eccentric man.
Up and awesome! Also sharing this very interesting hub.
Hi Brett,
Funky is a good way to describe the Beer Can House in Houston. Haha! Would be nice if you come down here to see it as well as other things. Thanks for your comment and sharing of this hub.
Love the photos.
What a funky way to make sure you are remembered! lol. A friend of mine has just returned to Texas and it is a place I would like to visit, so who knows, maybe I'll get chance to pop by.
Thanks for SHARING, up and awesome!
Hello Keith Matyi,
Glad to hear that you liked this hub about the Beer Can House in Houston. Thanks for your comment.
Great story and photos!
Hello realtorcards,
The beer can house in Houston is definitely that! Neat! Ha! Thanks for your comment.
WOW! That is so neat :)
Hi Dave,
No lingering beer smell at the Beer Can House in Houston. Haha! I think that the owner consumed the contents of many of those beer cans...but perhaps his neighbors and friends also contributed.
Did you take a photo of your shrine to the White Castle hamburgers? That is funny. Hub content??? :)))
Holy Mackerel! Now, that is a house that really has some character! I wonder how many people were involved drinking all that beer to empty the cans for buiding? LOL
I wonder if the area smells like stale beer? I never build anything out of beer cans, but did make a wall using White Castle hamburger boxes. It was pretty impressive until my boss told me to take it down because it smelled like onions!
No accounting for taste!
Hello Australian Beers,
Yes, the Beer Can House in Houston, Texas is surely a tourist attraction! Thanks for your comment.
Very nice place. it is very enjoying and can bring visitors.
Hi KoffeeKlatch Gals,
Understood perfectly and I feel the same. Houston's Beer Can House is fun to introduce to visitors...but glad it is not next door to us. Actually our subdivision rules would keep something like that from happening. Thanks for the comment.
Peggy, it's interesting to read about and look at but I'm not sure I'd want to live next door to it. Very creative.
Hello Les Trois Chenes,
Thanks for leaving a comment on this hub about the Beer Can House in Houston. If you decide to cover your French farmhouse with wine bottles and need help emptying them, give us a call! (Smile)
Mad, bad - or just artistic? Amazing what some people do. Perhaps I'll cover our stone farmhouse in France with wine bottles - good excuse to empty them anyway.
Hi Ben,
It is very likely that you would have seen my aunt as she volunteered there for many, many years. She loved art. Had a degree in it and she not only painted, but had 3 kilns in her basement and created pottery as well.
Loved visiting art museums with her! She could fill in interesting background information about artists and what they created making the viewing that much more interesting.
Will try and find your hub you mentioned.
As to the beer can house...can't you just imagine what the neighbors thought when that project was first started? Haha!
Wow Peggy I may have met your aunt or at least saw her. I won a drawing class scholarship when I was a kid to that very museum, and spent many hours there admiring the art. They added a new wing by the internationally renown archtitect Calatrava, it moves! I have an image of it on my 10 Eclectic Vacations in Wisconsin hub.
I love the idea of the beer can windchimes, funny thing is, you have to really commit to going all the way with this kind of art, or your neighbors will just think you're getting lazy with your junk! For example, I have a wine bottle sculpture (possibly a bat/dragon in the making?) that I haven't been able to make progress with for months, and now it's too cold to continue. I'm jealous of your Texas weather Peg.
Cheers,
Ben
Hi Ben,
Glad that you enjoyed this hub about the Beer Can House in Houston, Texas. My mother grew up in Milwaukee also. My aunt (when she was still alive) was a docent at the art museum there overlooking the water. That is quite a structure! Thanks for the comment.
How could I not comment on this great hub, it mixes two of my favorite things, art and beer. As someone who was raised in Milwaukee, I have seen many things commemorating beer, hats, chairs, skirts, thongs, what have you. First house though, I admire this man's tenacity, and liver power.
Well done, fun hub.
Ben
Hello goody7,
If you want to live in a house like the beer can house in Houston, Texas...start saving your beer cans! Haha! Will check out your poem. Thanks!
Awesome house! I wish I lived in one. You'll have to check out my beer poem sometime. It'll really make your day.
Hi dahoglund,
Good that you have that option! Falling can have serious consequences as we get older. Take care!
Thanks for the encouragement. It is basically just uncomfortable. X-rays didn't show any damage. The Doctor basically said that I shouldn't expect it to go away in such a short time.The weather has warmed up a bit. Yesterdays and today's snow were not too bad.If worse comes to worse I would hire a service to do it which I did three years ago when I was having surgery and recovering.
Hi dahoglund,
Thank heavens for that guy with the John Deer snow remover! I'll agree that those prat falls can be funny in a comedy, but not in real life when one is injured. Those are the dangers living up north during the time of year when there is snow and ice.
I have an aunt that fell on a patch of ice when going to her mailbox and messed up the nerves in her arm. Never completely recovered from that one accident.
Be careful! Hope you recover completely and never fall on a patch of ice again. If good wishes would make it so...consider it DONE!
Thanks for the concern. No rose can't do shoveling as she has serious back problems. Last weeks snow was something else. I cleared the snow but then we got wind and it drifted over. The snowblower tended to want to crawl up the snow rather that through it.
Some fellow that lives near here with a John Deere rideing snow thrower came a helped me out. The phrase who is that masked man comes to mind.
Todays snow was more normal and the temps mild, unlike last week.
It isn't my back as such but just below the spine.I was walking the dog and everything was pretty clear at the time and I steped on a peice of ice and did what is known as a pratfall. Sort of thing considered funny in old comedies when someone steps on a banana peel.
Maybe you can hire some local kid to do your snow shoveling until your back feels better? Or is your wife handy with a snow shovel? I realize that I was younger back when we lived in Wisconsin Rapids, but I did quite a bit of the shoveling at the time.
This certainly hit you at the wrong time of year to have back problems since the winter snows will continue for some time. How about one of those back braces?
The house Dennis Weaver built was written up in the newspaer probably when we still lived in St. Paul, MN. It was probably in California somewhere. I believe he has died some time ago. You might find something about it on the internet. It only came to mind because of reading this hub.
The doctor said the soreness will go away but taking it easy is a problem when it keeps snowing.
Hi dahoglund,
So sorry to hear about your back! Take it easy and feel better soon.
So...you think that your father would have liked seeing the beer can house in Houston, Texas. I think that most people find it (at least) interesting.
Did you see the house made from old tires? That would surely make for an interesting hub! Thanks for that information. Where is it?
These oddities are interesting. I believe my father would have liked it.
Dennis Weaver, the actor from gunsmoke and McCloud once made a house from old tires.
Wisconsin Rapids is getting snow but not as much as other places. I hurt my back a couple of weeks ago which somewhat hampers snow removal. Like the snow the back pain will go away eventually.
Hello Tony,
Other than the fact that Micky Dee does not drink, the Golden Rule is certainly the common link. John Milkovisch used beer cans to help pass along that idea at his Beer Can House in Houston, Texas for all to see and hopefully take to heart...along with his recycling message. If he had not been a beer drinker, I wonder if something else might have been used? Guess we will never know. Thanks for the visit and comment. Hope I can find your "outsider" artists hub. Love and peace to you.
This is amazing! I really enjoyed reading about this. Interesting that there must be some spiritual connection between John Milkovisch and my brotherman Micky Dee - they both promote the ethic of the Golden Rule! Good one, Peggy, I really enjoyed this. It put me in mind of other "outsider" artists, one of whom in South Africa I wrote a Hub about.
Love and peace
Tony
Hello Micky,
Ah...but if all houses were built like the Beer Can House in Houston, Texas then they would no longer be unique. Someone would have to think of adorning the outside with corn or something like that. Wait! That's already been done at the Corn Palace in South Dakota. Maybe cabbages.....? :-)
Hello Grant,
Folk art lovers would respectfully disagree. The Beer Can House was not originally open for viewing and the only option was seeing it from the street. But when my husband and I visited it on a weekend when it was open, and the grandson of the owners was there to talk to people, it was very interesting. We liked seeing the inside of the house and backyard sculptures as well.
You are amazing! Of course all buttons were lit up. Peggy, I just can't drink. I've tried. I wish I could enjoy it - maybe. I love the beer can house! More construction should be like this. Bless you Dear Peggy!
Not really worth going in, but it's worth the few minutes it takes to go snap a few photos from the street and move on!
Hi Amie Warren,
Our neighborhood would also not allow such a thing as the Beer Can House but where it exists, they obviously did not have neighborhood association rules in effect. Houston is notorious for having no zoning laws. Glad you enjoyed reading about this "Houston Treasure." :-)
This is so cute! I have been tempted to do something similar to my run-down house, but my city would quickly cite me for violations.
Hello BkCreative,
If you liked seeing this hub about the Beer Can House, just imagine how you would enjoy seeing it in person! Houston definitely has some unusual treasures! :-) Thanks for the comment.
I just love this. Well, I just love creative people - who can see through such artistic eyes. I've heard about this but had no idea where it was. Thanks for all the photos and information. Now I must find your art cars hub.
Great fun. Rated up! Yay!
Hi billyaustindillon,
I'll put it this way...I am happy that The Beer Can House is not next door to where we live. Fortunately our subdivision has deed restrictions that would outlaw such a thing from happening. That being said...all of our out of town company have always gotten the biggest kick out of seeing it and without exception they have always taken photographs to take back home with them as souvenirs of a visit there. Pictures of River Oaks homes? No. Beer Can House? Yes! Guess that speaks volumes. Haha!
As to the art cars...have you visited the Art Car Museum? I've written about that also. Those are fun to see in the museum and around town.
II still haven't made my mind up if it is an eyesore or inspired :) I often think it is a nice tie in with the art cars around Houston Peggy.
Hi zzron,
I think that you will find The Beer Can House amazing and amusing at the same time. Thanks for the visit and comment.
I will put the address in my GPS. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123660517659
Hi Gypsy Willow,
The old beer cans are certainly collectible and they all can be recycled...so yes, beer cans are valuable. Let me know what you think of the Beer Can House the next time you are in Houston. If it is a weekend, you can see the inside and backyard as well as the front. Thanks for the comment.
Amazing! beer cans are a valuable commodity these days. I shall certainly check this out next time I'm in Houston.
Greetings loveofnight,
Yes...and start asking your friends and neighbors to start saving their beer cans as well. How about starting out small...maybe build a dog house for starters? Ha!
i better start drinking now if i am going to top this.....
Hi habee,
Thanks for visiting the Beer Can House in Houston, Texas. So your hubby likes beer! We would have to figure out a way to build a house with empty wine bottles on this end. :-)
Too cool! We could build a mansion with hubby's empties. lol
Hi zzron,
Enjoy yourself at the Bayou City Arts Festival. I am an artist who has never gone that route...but certainly appreciate fine art.
Have you been to the Beer Can House? It is a folk art treasure...something different, for sure. Thanks for the comments.
Another awesome hub. My wife and I are planning on going to the Bayou City Art Festival this weekend at Memorial Park. If you are interested, there are more details at http://www.abc13.com
Hi Dolores,
I guess from what I have read that the neighbors got used to the extra traffic on their street and most of them even got a kick out of the "celebrity house" in their neighborhood. Not sure when it started out what they thought of the creation of the Beer Can House in Houston.
In Houston, Texas the only thing that prevents things like that happening next door to where one lives are neighborhood associations which have certain restrictions. Otherwise, there are no broad based zoning laws in place.
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
I do love people like that. But, I'd think that the neighbors would be in an uproar over the beer can house and that there would be problems. Well, God bless John Milkovisch, what a guy!
Hello Truth From Truth,
Maybe next time you will have more available time to enjoy sites like the Beer Can House in Houston. Our relatives and friends have always enjoyed it and left with pictures while some of the more spectacular sites were left unphotographed. Ha! Thanks for the comment.
Thanks Peggy great story. I was in Galveston before, and I flew in to the Houston airport. I unfortunately missed this house. It would have been great to stop and see it. Well maybe next time. Thanks, enjoy your Sunday.
Hi Tracy711,
Cano's Castle sounds interesting. Will pass the information on to some friends who live in Colorado and see if they have ever visited there.
Everyone that ever visits the Beer Can House in Houston, Texas seems to leave with photos. It is just so unusual and funny compared to the norm that it always makes a big impression. At least I can vouch that everyone we have ever taken there get out their cameras and start snapping pictures.
Thanks for the information and also the comments.
BTW...just went to the Internet and punched in Cano's Castle. Amazing site! Thought that I would put the link here so that others could also enjoy seeing it.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/8936
Thanks again Tracy!
loved this hub very inteesting. You know in the small town where I grew up there is also and aluminum can building. It's called Cano's Castle...It's quite an amazing sight he gets lots of travelers who stop by and take photos. I don't have pix of it but I've seen it on a web site when I was looking for photos. It's in the San Luis Valley and the town is Antonito Colorado if you want to check it out. thank you for sharing God bless
Hello again Alicia,
You seem to be visiting many of my Houston based hubs. Glad that you are enjoying them. The Beer Can House is certainly interesting and memorable to people who get to see it in person. Thanks again for commenting.
What an interesting article!
Hi gourownway,
Wouldn't have thought of that! But since the Orange Foundation now owns it, am sure that there are security cameras, etc. to protect it. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
I wonder in these economic down turn times, if he has people trying to steal the cans for money??? Interesting house, don't think I would want to live next door, but would love to see it in person.
Hi Jeff, He did all of his drinking ahead of time! LOL Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
And no way anyone drinks anything out of sheet rock drywall.
Hi Marisue,
Do you have photos of those houses? Would be fun to see. Thanks for commenting.
I guess everyone has to have a purpose for living!!! LOL WOW! I've seen a rubber tire house, a storage door house, and a wheel r us house. This is another to add to the odd list. =)))
Hi Donna,
Actually that was his idea......end the painting + provide extra insulation and some shading from the sun.
That house you remember would be fun to see. People can be so inventive!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
LOL, I wonder if the beer cans provided insulation against the Teas sun?
When I was a little girl I remember seeing pictures in National Geographic of a house a man built of glass bottles. It was in the desert and some of the bottles turned lavendar from the sun.
Built with time and love of product, parkerK393. LOL Thanks for commenting.
WOW! That is a sweet house! Great hub!
Greetings BristolBoy, You guessed it......most of the cans utilized were aluminum. Since the owner and creator did not like to paint, he certainly would not have wanted to deal with rust! Actually a few cans in a free standing fence of sorts are rusty and obviously he intended that for the effect.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
What an unusual house. The first thing that came to mind when read the page was isn't there a chance the house will go rusty? Or was aluminium used instead?
Hi Celesta, Malone street is perpendicular to Memorial Drive. Not far from Bayou Bend to put this in perspective. Thanks for commenting!
I saw this house about two or three years ago. Is it in or near the Heights? Cain will get a kick out of seeing this one. Thanks for sharing.
Glad I could point you in the right direction, rongould. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Living close to Houston, I'll have to check this out. Thanks!
Hi G-Ma, How about a zillion bubble-wrapped insulators? Just a thought... Not even sure what type of insulators you are talking about...?
Yes, it IS interesting what people can dream up and actually execute in their spare time. Thanks for the comment.
Very interesting, what some people can come up with...I have a zillion insulators wonder what I can build??? I just don't think I could stand the noise from them though, banging together...Thanks for this Hub...:O) G-Ma HUGs
Hello Lupo, So you missed this one when you lived here..... This will give you a reason to come back! It is always amazing at what we do not know of things in our own backyards, so to speak. Thanks for commenting.
Hi RKHenry, I've always thought the same thing. Interesting and fun, but I am happy that it is not next door!
Hey goldentoad, A pyramid, huh? Does this give you any ideas of what to do with your time when you are retired? Ha!
I can't believe I missed this gem. I used to live in Memorial Heights and would ride my bike from there to Memorial Park. Guess if I ever go back I will have to head over there to check it out.
Thanks for the interesting hub!
Can't say that I would want to live by it. Thanks for the great tid bits you always include in your stories. Very interesting.
Well I wish I could top that, but I'm lucky to build a pyramid out of my cans
Peggy W Hub Author 3 months ago
Hi Madurai,
Ah yes...houses covered with beer cans are certainly out of the norm. Haha! Nice to know that you enjoyed this! Thanks for your comment.