This ivy-clad, Tudor-style mansion on a leafy street in Milwaukee’s East Side district makes the ideal home for a diverse collection of fine art through the ages. It was built in 1911 for prominent local industrialist and art collector Charles Allis, and was later gifted to the city for future art-loving generations to enjoy.
The permanent collection on display covers a broad range of styles, from 19th century French paintings, sculpture, Renaissance bronzes and Oriental ceramics. As you move through each room, you get the sense of prying into a lavish private home frozen in time each room features antique furniture, hanging watercolors and elaborate objets d’art.
The museum staff runs hour-long tours every day for groups of 10 persons or more. Ring ahead to make an appointment. You can also go at your own pace with an individual self-guided tour.
Browse temporary exhibitions showcasing local Wisconsin artists. Serious film buffs can enjoy screenings of rare Hollywood movies from the 1930s. The museum stays open after dark as an elegant venue for occasional concerts of blues and folk music. Check the events calendar on the museum’s website.
The Charles Allis Art Museum is in the city’s East Side neighborhood at North Prospect Avenue. There’s plenty of street parking nearby, and a bus stops right outside the museum.
It’s open Wednesday to Sunday afternoons and late into the evening for selected events and concerts. Buy a Magnificent 3-Museum Pass for reduced entry into the Charles Allis Art Museum, Villa Terrace Art Museum and the Pabst Mansion.
