The Charles Allis Art Museum, Milwaukee

The Charles Allis Art Museum in Milwaukee is a historic Tudor-style mansion-turned-museum that offers visitors a rich blend of art, history, and architecture. Originally built between 1909 and 1911 as the home of Charles Allis-the first president of the Allis-Chalmers Corporation-and his wife Sarah, the house was designed by architect Alexander Eschweiler. It was one of Milwaukee’s earliest private residences to feature electricity and was constructed with fire-resistant concrete walls to protect the couple’s growing art collection.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Charles Allis House, the building showcases refined craftsmanship, from its mauve Ohio brick exterior trimmed with Lake Superior sandstone to its opulent interiors adorned with Circassian walnut paneling, embossed Lincrusta Walton wallpaper, and marble sourced from across Europe.

Charles and Sarah Allis were dedicated patrons of the arts and active civic leaders. Their home and collection-featuring paintings, prints, sculptures, ceramics, and even ancient glass dating back to 1 B.C.-were left to the public to “delight, inspire and educate.” Today, the museum remains largely intact with original furnishings, offering an immersive glimpse into Milwaukee’s cultural heritage.

Since becoming a museum in 1979 under Milwaukee County’s care, the Allis has also served as a hub for contemporary Wisconsin artists. Alongside its permanent collection, it hosts rotating exhibitions focused on painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and sculpture. The museum also presents Allis After Hours, a free seasonal jazz series held in the English Garden or Margaret Rahill Great Hall, spotlighting local musicians.

Together with the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, the Charles Allis Art Museum forms part of the Milwaukee County War Memorial Corporation, continuing a legacy of artistic enrichment rooted in civic generosity and historical preservation.