Old Car City
White, Georgia
November 2018

In 1947, researchers at Dow Chemical found a way to make foamed polystyrene. Polystyrene is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer; it is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. Polystyrene was discovered in 1839 by Eduard Simon, an apothecary from Berlin.

Styrofoam Cup Museum by Paul Sager, on Flickr


In 1954, the Koppers Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, developed expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam under the trade name Dylite. In 1960, Dart Container, the largest manufacturer of foam cups, shipped their first order.

Styrofoam Cup Museum


Some companies, such as coffee retailers and doughnut shops, sell their products in disposable cups. A large chain of doughnut shops can use one billion disposable coffee cups in a year, enough to circle the Earth twice. Several coffee chains now offer discounts for customers who bring along their own cup. McDonald's switched from foam cups to paper cups in 2014.

Styrofoam Cup Museum


Folk art covers all forms of visual art. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative. The makers of folk art are normally trained within a popular tradition, rather than having a formal education in a fine art.

Styrofoam Cup Museum


Dean Lewis, the owner of Old Car City, has been getting a cup of tea every morning, and instead of throwing out the cup, he doodles on the cup through the day creating his own cup art. His styrofoam cup collection now consists of 1500+ cups that each have a unique hand drawn design. This collection is the result of 36 years of creating a new piece of art most every day.

Styrofoam Cup Museum


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