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Property Location
| Location (Address) | 1801 N Prospect Ave. or 1630 E ROYALL PL. |
|---|---|
| County | Milwaukee |
| City/Village | Milwaukee |
| Township | |
| Unincorporated community | |
| Town | |
| Range | |
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| Quarter Quarter Section |
Property Features
| Year Built | 1909 |
|---|---|
| Additions | |
| Survey Date | 1986,2010 |
| Historic Use | house |
| Architectural Style | English Revival Styles |
| Structural System | |
| Wall Material | Brick |
| Architect | Eschweiler, Alexander C. |
| Other Buildings On Site | |
| Demolished | No |
| Demolished Date | |
| Additional Comments |
HABS. A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation-Public History. Resurveyed as part of Milwaukee Downtown Connector Arch/History Survey (2010), Prepared by Heritage Research. The dignified but austere exterior of this mansion relies very little on ornament or stylistic detail. Instead, it emphasizes careful attention to massing brick, sandstone, and other building materials. Eschweiler's rendition of the Neo-Tudor mode is executed with almost obsessive restraint. Only plain limestone dressings interrupt the dark brick walls. This spare exterior does nothing to prepare visitors for the sumptuous, nearly intact interior features marble and alabaster fittings, hand-rubbed mahogany woodwork, English-style ornamental plasterwork, and a magnificent hand-wrought bronze staircase balustrade. In 1946, the building became a museum displaying the Allis family's Asian porcelain, bronze sculptures, paintings, and antique furniture. State-of-the-art technology went into its construction. It is said that owner Charles Allis intended his mansion to become an art museum after his death, so to protect his collection for the ages, he requested a fireproof structure. The brick and stone walls conceal a steel frame, the floors are poured concrete and the foundation rests on fifty-foot-deep piles. The house reflects the same industrial mentality that Charles Allis applied to his business, the Allis-Chalmers Company, one of the world's largest heavy machinery manufacturers. |
| Bibliographic References | Inscription. Permit. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 3/9/1997. Zimmermann. Buildings of Wisconsin manuscript. |
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
| National/State Register Listing Name | Allis, Charles, House |
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| National Register Listing Date | Jan 17, 1975 |
| State Register Listing Date | Jan 01, 1989 |
| Contributing |
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Questions?
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Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
Charles Allis
1901
Quarter-length portrait of Charles Allis, president of the Allis-Chalmers Company (1901-1905), vice-president and director of the Milwaukee Trust Company, director of the First National Bank, trust...
