One man's junk is another man's cathedral

Vince Hannemann and his dog sit on the throne of junk.

The welcome sign for all who visit.

The cathedral stands 33-feet tall.

There are various rooms throughout the cathedral made of anything imaginable.

Hannemann's cathedral has many elements to it.

To this day Hannemann occasionally works on his project.

The cathedral will forever be a staple of Austin and its "weirdness." 

On a quiet street in south Austin sits what has for long become a staple attraction in Austin, Vincent Hannemann’s 33-foot-high, 60-ton cathedral of junk.

Hannemann’s giant junkyard attracts thousands of visitors each year and has been doing so since Hannemann began the project back in 1989. Hannemann built the massive structure for no real reason, saying it was something that just slowly came together.

"People ask me all the time, 'What made you want to do this?' Like it had some sort of profound meaning,” Hannemann said. “I just did it because I liked it, and when I stop liking it, I'll take it down."

Most of what is found at the cathedral has been given to Hannemann by friends, admirers and strangers just stopping by.

On the average day one can find the proposed “Junk King” hanging out with his dog in his backyard where his scrap castle sits. The cathedral is strung together from anything imaginable: Road signs, dolls, pipes, car parts and other rubbish.

For now the cathedral of junk will last as long as its owner wants it to. Eventually however, Hannemann insists the legendary attraction will have its end.

“Oh no, I'm not doing this for the rest of my life,” Hannemann said. “I want to eventfully retire to the back porch, to [relax]."