Charles Allis Art Museum

The Charles Allis Art Museum occupies a 1911 mansion designed by architect Alexander Eschweiler in the Tudor Revival style, with marble hallways and classical architectural details throughout. The rooms contain paintings by European masters alongside ceramics from Persia and artifacts from Japan's Meiji period.

The house was built in 1911 for industrialist Charles Allis and his wife Sarah, both passionate art collectors who gathered works over their lifetime. In 1945, they donated their home and collection to Milwaukee, transforming the residence into a museum for public access.

The name reflects its founder, an industrialist whose personal collection remains scattered throughout rooms that still feel like a lived-in home rather than a formal gallery. Walking through the spaces, you experience how art was actually displayed in a private residence.

The museum is located on Prospect Avenue and opens Wednesday through Sunday in the afternoon, with wheelchair access available through a side entrance from the coach house. Plan for a leisurely visit to explore the collection spread across multiple rooms throughout the residence.

The original marble fountain still stands in the dining room, brought from Paris between 1875 and 1900, complete with operating instructions handwritten by Charles Allis himself. This working artwork reveals the care and attention to detail that the original collectors brought to their home.

Location: Milwaukee

Opening Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 13:00-17:00; November 2 closed; December 24-25 closed; December 31 closed; January 1 closed

GPS coordinates: 43.05383,-87.89049

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:06