NAMPC Tours
Wonderful, Wacky Houston: A Tour of the City’s Fantastic Folk Art Environments
The Beer Can House – From 1968 until 1988 John Martin Milkovisch completely cemented over his yard and decorated it with found objects – marbles, colorful stones, bits of metal, sea shells, etc. He did it so he would never have to mow grass again. John loved beer, drinking a six pack a day. He saved the cans for 20 years and when the yard was finished he covered the house with flattened cans and hung curtains from the eaves made of can tops, bottoms and pull tabs. Ripley’s Believe It or Not estimated 50,000 cans were used in the project.
The Orange Show – Jeff McKissack survived the Great Depression by buying oranges in Texas, California, Florida and Arizona and reselling them in states that did not grow that fruit. It was then he learned of the numerous healthy benefits of ingesting an orange or two a day. In the mid-1960s he had an epiphany – build the world’s first monument to the orange. McKissack devoted the rest of his life to this project. The Orange Show completely fills a city lot and is made of thousands of found objects – tractor wheels and seats, railroad spikes, gears, welded metal pieces, concrete decorations, et al.
The Flower Man – Cleveland Turner lived on “Skid Row” for 20 years – fueling himself with gallons of Thunderbird wine. He almost died of acute alcohol poisoning. While in intensive care Turner had a vision and promised God if he was allowed to live he would swear off wine and build the Father a glorious monument. Good to his word and sober for almost a quarter of a century he decorated his modest home with flowers, fruit trees, vegetables and found objects. Meet Turner, marvel at his world famous environment and hear his story.
Art Cars – Houston is the “Art Car Capitol of the World,” annually presenting the largest parade of art cars, decorated motorcycles, bicycles, contraptions and low-riders ever assembled. Every May approximately 250 of these rolling pieces of art amaze 300,000 wide-eyed spectators lining the streets of downtown. Among the vehicles we will see is “Atomic Dog” dedicated to funkadelic musician George Clinton, the Brain Car by The Institute of Rehabilitation & Research and others. Car artists will answer your questions about this unique art form.
Lagniappe - Along the way we will point out murals, sculpture, places of worship, architecture and other interesting sites.
Buffalo Bayou Pontoon Boat Tours
Explore the birthplace of Houston and learn why we’re known as the Bayou City. Climb abroad the Bayou Breeze, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s pontoon boat, for a leisurely 60-minute ride on Houston’s landmark waterway. The Buffalo Bayou Partnership offers pontoon-boat tours to the public and conducts an annual regatta, showcasing a waterway that stretches for 52 miles and has played a pivotal role in Houston’s development. Visit Allen’s Landing, the city’s birthplace in 1836, often described as Houston’s Plymouth Rock; Sesquicentennial Park, built as a commemoration to Houston’s 150th birthday, and the newly redeveloped $15 million Sabine-to-Bagby Promenade with breathtaking views of the downtown skyline.
You’ll marvel, too, at the 17-block Houston Theater District on the bayou banks.
