Allis Mansion Coach House

Shown here is the museum’s entrance, which originally served as the coach house. Charles and Sarah’s first conveyance was horse and carriage. Originally, front steps leading off the dining room porch were used for the purpose of getting in and out of their carriage, avoiding the interior of the coach house altogether. Sarah and Charles believed in modernization, and fairly soon after moving into their residence, they bought their first car, a Pierce Arrow. This modernization brought changes to the coach house, which was soon converted to a garage with turntable. Because cars during this time were not yet fitted with reverse gears, the turntable allowed the driver to pull into the garage, rotate the car on the platter, and drive out again on their next voyage. The renovation of the Allis coach house into a museum entrance was designed by David Uihlein as part of the Great Hall addition in 1998. It was a gift of the Jane and Lloyd Pettit Foundation in honor of Wisconsin painter Gerald Landt.

Photography by Kevin Miyazaki.