by .
Joseph Smith, Jr. (pictured), founder of the church,
and his brother Hyrum were killed in Carthage, Illinois, by a mob on June 27, 1844
Shortly after Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon in 1830, he officially founded The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints - also known as the Mormon Church - in Fayette, New York. The church flourished but was forced to relocate frequently. It was violently expelled from Missouri, and a mob killed Smith in Illinois in 1844. His successor, Brigham Young, led followers to Utah three years later. Tensions with the US government continued to escalate, culminating in what war? More...
1994 - The Rwandan genocide begins
The assassination of Rwandan President, Juvénal Habyarimana, and Burundian President, Cyprien Ntaryamira, triggered a mass slaughter of ethnic Tutsis with up to 1 million victims.
1965 - The first commercial communications satellite is launched
Intelsat I, also known as Early Bird, facilitated the first live TV broadcast of a spacecraft splashdown when Gemini 6 landed in the Atlantic Ocean.
1924 - A team of aviators begins the first round-the-world flight in history
Four aircraft left Seattle on a westbound route around the globe. 157 days later, two of them reached the same location.
1909 - Robert Peary allegedly becomes the first person to reach the North Pole
Peary's claim has never been verified and is widely contested. The first undisputed journey to the North Pole was the 1948 Soviet Sever-2 expedition.
1896 - The first modern Olympic Games are opened in Athens
241 athletes from 14 countries took part in the First Olympiad. The event took place over 1500 years after the last ancient Olympic Games, which originated in Olympia in south-western Greece.
Historic Trivia pick - House Made Of Beer Cans
Decorated with more than 50,000 recycled beer cans, this artsy home is an homage to intricate craftsmanship.
Just off I-45, in a nondescript neighborhood in Rice Military, Houston, Texas, sits a home like no other. One that was decorated by a man who, depending on the talk you want to believe, either became bored of his retirement or put his attic stock of old beer cans to good use. Or maybe both? What resulted was The Beer Can House: a folk-art-home that guests can visit to see an incredible show of craftsmanship up close.
Milkovisch didn’t stop at the grass, however, and began creating flower boxes, fences, signs, benches, and other landscaping items out of concrete and redwood. Then, he started on “renovating” the house itself. He was a lover of beer, and therefore, found his perfect medium when he began manipulating leftover cans to create his own aluminum siding. In addition, he created garlands from can tops and pull tabs, which still create musical sounds when they catch the wind just right. And, as a totally added bonus, they actually lowered the home’s electric bill by reflecting sunlight off the house.
The mailbox at The Beer Can House
Currently, guests are invited to visit the home Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults and children under 12 get in free. So, rightfully so, we say “Cheers to John!,” and the beautiful folk-art that is The Beer Can House.
Founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints
Joseph Smith, Jr. (pictured), founder of the church,
and his brother Hyrum were killed in Carthage, Illinois, by a mob on June 27, 1844
Shortly after Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon in 1830, he officially founded The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints - also known as the Mormon Church - in Fayette, New York. The church flourished but was forced to relocate frequently. It was violently expelled from Missouri, and a mob killed Smith in Illinois in 1844. His successor, Brigham Young, led followers to Utah three years later. Tensions with the US government continued to escalate, culminating in what war? More...
1994 - The Rwandan genocide begins
The assassination of Rwandan President, Juvénal Habyarimana, and Burundian President, Cyprien Ntaryamira, triggered a mass slaughter of ethnic Tutsis with up to 1 million victims.
1965 - The first commercial communications satellite is launched
Intelsat I, also known as Early Bird, facilitated the first live TV broadcast of a spacecraft splashdown when Gemini 6 landed in the Atlantic Ocean.
1924 - A team of aviators begins the first round-the-world flight in history
Four aircraft left Seattle on a westbound route around the globe. 157 days later, two of them reached the same location.
1909 - Robert Peary allegedly becomes the first person to reach the North Pole
Peary's claim has never been verified and is widely contested. The first undisputed journey to the North Pole was the 1948 Soviet Sever-2 expedition.
1896 - The first modern Olympic Games are opened in Athens
241 athletes from 14 countries took part in the First Olympiad. The event took place over 1500 years after the last ancient Olympic Games, which originated in Olympia in south-western Greece.
Historic Trivia pick - House Made Of Beer CansDecorated with more than 50,000 recycled beer cans, this artsy home is an homage to intricate craftsmanship.
Just off I-45, in a nondescript neighborhood in Rice Military, Houston, Texas, sits a home like no other. One that was decorated by a man who, depending on the talk you want to believe, either became bored of his retirement or put his attic stock of old beer cans to good use. Or maybe both? What resulted was The Beer Can House: a folk-art-home that guests can visit to see an incredible show of craftsmanship up close.
The Story Behind the Beer Can House
Houstonian John Milkovisch was an upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad. After his retirement, he began to get a bit antsy. He was a man who always liked having something to work on, preferably jobs that allowed him to work with his hands. He started making changes to his home in 1968, which included removing the grass in his lawn and replacing it with concrete blocks. He decorated these blocks with marbles, metal, rocks, and other paraphernalia. When asked why he started down this road, he was reported to have said that he was sick of having to mow the lawn.Milkovisch didn’t stop at the grass, however, and began creating flower boxes, fences, signs, benches, and other landscaping items out of concrete and redwood. Then, he started on “renovating” the house itself. He was a lover of beer, and therefore, found his perfect medium when he began manipulating leftover cans to create his own aluminum siding. In addition, he created garlands from can tops and pull tabs, which still create musical sounds when they catch the wind just right. And, as a totally added bonus, they actually lowered the home’s electric bill by reflecting sunlight off the house.
The mailbox at The Beer Can House
The House That Beer Built
The house is estimated to include over 50,000 beer cans as decoration, not to mention a host of other materials. It’s easy for guests who visit to see Milkovisch’s penchant for Coors and Texas Pride among the particular beers used, but the house isn’t a total monument to imbibing. In fact, there are a number of religious signs and symbols in the decorations, as well as several sentimental testaments to John and Mary’s relationship, such as a bench that reads “John’s Spot” on one end and “Mary’s Spot” on the other.Currently, guests are invited to visit the home Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults and children under 12 get in free. So, rightfully so, we say “Cheers to John!,” and the beautiful folk-art that is The Beer Can House.
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61-BLUES
