Charles Allis Art Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Charles Allis House
|
|
National Registered Historic Place
|
|
| Location | 1630 E Royall Pl, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Alexander Eschweiler |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000072 |
| Added to NRHP | January 17, 1975 |
The Charles Allis Art Museum is a cool place to visit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It used to be the home of a wealthy family. Today, it's a museum filled with amazing art and old treasures. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Charles Allis House.
Contents
Who Were Charles and Sarah Allis?
The Charles Allis Art Museum was once the home of Charles Allis and his wife, Sarah. Charles grew up in Milwaukee. His father, Edward P. Allis, founded a big company called Allis-Chalmers. Charles later became the first president of this company.
Charles and Sarah Ball got married in 1877. They were both very involved in the Milwaukee community. Charles helped start the Milwaukee Arts Society. He also served on the board of the Layton Art Gallery. Both Charles and Sarah loved art and gave a lot to charity.
How Did the Mansion Become a Museum?
Charles and Sarah loved collecting art. They gathered a special collection over many years. They wanted to share their home and art with everyone. Their goal was to "delight, inspire, and educate" the public.
Charles passed away in 1918. The house itself is a beautiful Tudor-style mansion. It was built in 1911. You can see a "Tudor Rose" design all over the house, both inside and out.
The museum first opened in 1957. It started as an art library. It was part of the Milwaukee County Public Library System. Then, in 1979, the Allis Mansion became an art museum. It has been a museum ever since.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The Charles Allis Art Museum is full of amazing things. You can find paintings, prints, and sculptures. There are also ceramics and many other art pieces. Most of the original furniture is still there.
The art collection is very diverse. It includes items from nearly 2,000 years ago. You can see ancient glass objects from 1 B.C. There are also paintings from Charles Allis's own time.
The museum also hosts special art shows. These shows often feature works by talented artists from Wisconsin. This helps keep the museum's collection fresh and exciting.
What About the House's Design?
The Charles Allis Mansion was designed by Alexander Eschweiler. He was a famous architect from Boston. Construction on the house began in 1909. It was finished in 1911.
This house was one of the first private homes in Milwaukee to have electricity. The walls are mostly made of concrete. This was a smart choice to protect the art collection from fire.
The outside of the house is made of mauve Ohio brick. It has trim made from Lake Superior sandstone. Inside, the rooms are decorated with fancy materials. This was a popular style back then.
For example, the French Parlor room has Circassian walnut paneling. Many rooms on the first floor have special wallpaper called Lincrusta Walton. It has raised designs and colors.
Almost every room has a hand-carved marble fireplace. Different kinds of beautiful marble were used throughout the house. These include Florido Creme and Tavernelle Clair.
Supporting Local Artists and Music
The Charles Allis Art Museum is a big supporter of Wisconsin artists. It often holds changing exhibitions. These shows highlight fine art, drawing, and photography. You can also see printmaking and sculpture.
Besides visual arts, the museum also hosts music events. They have a free music series called "Allis After Hours." On the third Thursday of the month, they have jazz concerts. These concerts take place in the English Garden or the Margaret Rahill Great Hall. The musicians are all from Milwaukee. This helps the museum show off local Wisconsin talent.
The Charles Allis Art Museum works with the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Both are part of the Milwaukee County War Memorial Corporation.
Selected Collection Highlights
-
Winslow Homer
.jpg)
