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CANvention History
   
   

1969: In The Beginning

In October 1969, collector Denver Wright, Jr., placed an ad in the St. Louis Globe Democrat asking anyone who collected beer cans to contact him.  Six collectors in the area responded.  After they had toured each others’ collections, the group decided to form the Beer Can Collectors of America at Denver’s residence on April 15, 1970.  By the first convention in St. Louis, there were more than 300 members.

 

CANvention 1: 1971 - St. Louis, MO
Holiday Inn South (Sunset Hills, MO)
Attendance: 232
Chairman: Gil Brennell #13
                       CANvention 28: 1998 - Little Rock, AR
Arkansas Excelsior Hotel
Attendance: 844
Host Chapter: Ar-CAN-Sas
Chairman: Kenn Flemmons #21489
CANvention 2: 1972 - Lake Geneva, WI
Playboy Club Hotel
Attendance: 528
Chairman: Gil Brennell #13
CANvention 29: 1999 - Tempe, AZ
Mission Palms Hotel
Attendance: 817
Host Chapter: A-1
Chairman: Dick Johnson #9492
CANvention 3: 1973 - Cincinnati, OH
Netherland Hilton
Attendance: 967
Host Chapter: Omichiana
Chairmen: John Ahrens #9, John Kordic #68, Bob McClure #104
CANvention 30: 2000 - Mobile, AL
Adams Mark Hotel
Attendance: 862
Host: BCCA CRAC Committee
CANvention 4: 1974 - Denver, CO
Denver Hilton
Attendance: 862
Host Chapter: Mile Hi
Chairman: Jim McCoy #136
CANvention 31: 2001 - Syracuse, NY
Hotel Syracuse
Attendance: 842
Host Chapters: Congress, Officer Suds,
Schultz & Dooley
Host: BCCA CRAC Committee
CANvention 5: 1975 - Des Moines, IA
Ramada Inn
Attendance: 1781
Host Chapter: Hawkeye
Chairman: Gerald Pecinovsky #346
CANvention 32: 2002 - Lexington, KY
Hyatt Regency & Radisson Plaza
Attendance: 844
Host: BCCA CRAC Committee
CANvention 6: 1976 - Philadelphia, PA
Marriott Hotel
Attendance: 1550
Host Chapter: Greater Delaware Valley
Chairman: John Ahrens #9
CANvention 33: 2003 - Pittsburgh, PA
Westin Convention Center Hotel
Attendance: 920
Host Chapter: Olde Frothingslosh
Co-Chairpersons: Jerry Lorenz #4013
and Deb Lorenz #29653
CANvention 7: 1977 - Kansas City, MO
Holiday Inn
Attendance: 2060
Host Chapter: KC's Best
Chairman: Bruce Gregg #248
CANvention 34: 2004 - Dearborn, MI
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Attendance: 837
Host Chapter: All Michigan Chapters
Chairman: Pat Cornils #15280
CANvention 8: 1978 - Milwaukee, WI
Marc Plaza
Attendance: 2620
Host Chapter: Badger Bunch
Co-Chairmen: Tom Houghton #88
and Bob Hermann #451
CANvention 35: 2005 - Charlotte, NC
Westin Charlotte Hotel
Attendance: 655
Host Chapter: Atlantic
Chairman: Bruce Dann #9754
CANvention 9: 1979 - Phoenix, AZ
Del Webb Townhouse
Attendance: 1145
Host Chapter: A-1
Chairmen: Marcia Butterbaugh #6560
CANvention 36: 2006 - Kansas City, MO
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Attendance: 774
Host Chapter: KC's Best
Liaison: Marcia Butterbaugh #6560
CANvention 10: 1980 - Hershey, PA
Hershey Motor Lodge
Attendance: 2144
Host Chapter: Keystone
Chairman: Dave Krantz #10227
CANvention 37: 2007 - Denver, CO
Adams Mark Hotel
Attendance: 680
Host Chapter: Mile hi
Liaison: Mark Rodgers #27935
CANvention 11: 1981 - Chicago, IL
Conrad Hilton Hotel
Attendance: 1748
Host Chapter: Windy City
Chairman: Ron Jones #1236
CANvention 38: 2008 - Orlando, FL
Caribe Royale
Attendance: 634
Host Chapter: Gator Traders
Liaison: Pat Taylor #6567
CANvention 12: 1982 - Minneapolis, MN
Hotel Leamington
Attendance: 1282
Host Chapter: North Star
Chairman: Jack Isacson #1213
CANvention 39: 2009 - Springfield, IL
Hilton Springfield
Attendance: 870
Host Chapter: Reisch Brew Crew
Liaison: Greg Lanaghan #16401
CANvention 13: 1983 - Houston, TX
Hyatt Regency
Attendance: 957
Host Chapter: Grand Prize
Chairman: Bob Dean #1254
CANvention 40: 2010 - Valley Forge, PA
King of Prussia, Valley Forge
Attendance: 777
Host Chapter: Horlacher
Liaison: Larry Handy #947
CANvention 14: 1984 - Cedar Rapids, IA
Stouffer's Five Seasons
Attendance: 1058
Host Chapter: Hawkeye
Chairman: Curt Fisher #232
CANvention 41: 2011 - Covington, KY
Marriott River Center
Attendance: 782
Host Chapters: Queen City and
Miami Valley
Liaison: Carey Williams #26979
CANvention 15: 1985 - Orlando, FL
Sheraton Twin Towers
Attendance: 931
Host Chapter: Gator Traders
Chairman: Rusty Wyar #666
CANvention 42: 2012 - Springfield, MA
Sheraton Monarch Place
Attendance: 577
Host Chapter: Pickwick and
CAN-necticut Red Fox
Liaison: Dan Morean #29622
CANvention 16: 1986 - Portland, OR
Red Lion Motor Inn
Attendance: 748
Host Chapter: Cascade
Chairman: Mike Dabner #21372
CANvention 43: 2013 - Fort Wayne, IN
Hilton Fort Wayne
Attendance: 856
Host Chapter: Three Rivers
Liaisons: Leroy Art #6270 &
Doug Farmer #29711
CANvention 17: 1987 - Niagara Falls, NY
Niagara Hilton
Attendance: 1222
Host Chapter: Simon Pure
Chairman: Bob Terray #18239
CANvention 44: 2014 - Dallas, TX
Hyatt Regency DFW
Attendance: 546
Host Chapters: Bluebonnet
and Lonestar
CANvention 18: 1988 - Grand Rapids, MI
Amway Grand Plaza and Grand Center
Attendance: 1027
Host Chapter: Michigan "Consortium"
Chairman: John McGuire #4698
CANvention 45: 2015 - Milwaukee, WI
Hilton Milwaukee City Center
Attendance: 1120
Host Chapters: Badger Bunch & Packer
Liaison: Pat Porter #28180
CANvention 19: 1989 - Columbus, OH
Hyatt Regency Ohio Center
Attendance: 1048
Host Chapter: Gambrinus
Chairman: Craig Myers #6612
CANvention 46: 2016 - Portland, OR
Red Lion Hotel - Jantzen Beach
Attendance: 612
Host Chapters: Cascade and Rainier
Liaisons: Rich and Sharon
Horrocks #16561
CANvention 20: 1990 - East Rutherford, NJ
Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel
Attendance: 1012
Host Chapter: Jersey Shore
Chairman: Joe Germino #24997
CANvention 47: 2017 - Cleveland, OH
Hilton Cleveland Downtown
Attendance: 881
Host Chapter: Lake Erie
Liaisons: Rodger Brane #9953
and Doreen Brane #34982
CANvention 21: 1991 - Santa Clara, CA
Doubletree Hotel
Attendance: 759
Host Chapter: 49er
Chairman: Ed Franco #7035
CANvention 48: 2018 - Omaha, NE
Hilton Omaha
Attendance: 761
Host Chapter: Cornhusker
Liaison: Bill Baburek #12293
CANvention 22: 1992 - Toronto, Canada
Regal Constellation Hotel
Attendance: 837
Host Chapter: Trillium
Chairman: Jim Snider #23934
CANvention 49: 2019 - Albuquerque, NM
Hyatt Regency
Attendance: 565
Host Chapter: Roadrunner
Liaison: Dan Scoglietti #26172
CANvention 23: 1993 - New Orleans, LA
Fairmont Hotel
Attendance: 661
Host Chapter: Mardi Gras
Chairman: Pat Warren #26327
CANvention 50: 2020 - St. Louis, MO
Marriott St. Louis Grand
Postponed due to COVID-19
CANvention 24: 1994 - Nashville, TN
Stouffer Nashville Hotel
Attendance: 864
Host Chapter: Goldcrest 51
Chairman: Chuck Hillyer #23705
CANvention 50 v2.0: 2021 - St. Louis, MO
Marriott St. Louis Grand
Attendance: 879
Host Chapter: Gateway
Liaison: Allen Kell #30126
CANvention 25: 1995 - St. Louis, MO
Regal Riverfront Hotel
Attendance: 1357
Host: St. Louis area members
Chairman: Jack Turner #365
CANvention 51: 2022 - Norfolk, VA
Hilton Norfolk The Main
Attendance: 520
Host Chapters: Richbrau, Capitol City, Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay
Liaison: Keith Bryant #26660
CANvention 26: 1996 -Indianapolis, IN
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Attendance: 1071
Host Chapter: Circle City Indy
Chairwoman: Mary Beth Colvin #29795
CANvention 52: 2023 -Louisville, KY
Galt House
Attendance: 698
Host Chapters: Queen City, Smoky Mountain, IBC
Liaison: Carey Williams #26979 & Rick Barney #35032
CANvention 27: 1997 - Atlanta, GA
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Attendance: 855
Host Chapter: Atlantic
Chairman: Steve Beebe #25847
  

MILESTONES

1971 – “CANvention” adopted as official name
1981 – CAN TOTES acquired
1985 – Family memberships introduced
1994 – First year of Newsletter contest
1995 – BCCA’s Silver Anniversary celebrated
1996 – First year for an auction at CANvention, BCCA website launched
2000 – USBC completed and mailed, New BCCA Logo introduced
2002 – Brewery Museum Foundation formed
2003 – Name of club changed to “Brewery Collectibles Club of America”
2005 – BCCA received Not for Profit designation
2008 – USBC Tab Top book completed, Brewery Industry Partners Program begins
2009 – BCCA adopts a new Code of Ethics
2010 – BCCA celebrates it’s 40th year and Beer Can’s 75th Anniversary
2011 – Gift Management Program Introduced
2015 – Lois Wright Lady of Distinction Award introduced
2016 – New Website Launched
2020 – CANvention 50 conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 – Tribute Membership introduced.

CANvention is the BCCA's biggest collector event, drawing breweriana collectors from around the U.S., Canada and the world. Nearly 1,000 members share several days of trading, buying, selling, socializing, sampling and enjoying the attractions of the host city.  Also See: