Events Large And Small
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum has space for any size gathering. Contact them to organize your next event, their staff will be helpful and help cater to whatever event your planning. Theyre best known for weddings because of the opportunity to take pictures all around the mansion and in the garden. See our link to their website below.
Event Invitation From Alderman Nik Kovac
Five small and medium sized arts and culture museums, located on Milwaukees historic East Side and in close proximity to one another along the Lake Michigan shoreline, have created the Milwaukee Museum Mile. This joint effort among the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, The Charles Allis Art Museum, Museum of Wisconsin Art at St. Johns On The Lake, The Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, and the North Point Lighthouse at Lake Park, creates a simple and more affordable way for visitors to access and enjoy multiple museum experiences, while promoting the area as a destination to Milwaukee residents and visitors to our city.
Why Should You Come To Cafe Sopra Mare At The Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, from the lake. Cred: CAVT
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About The Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
Overlooking Lake Michigan, the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum is an Italian Renaissance-style villa designed and built by architect David Adler in 1923 as the residence of Lloyd Smith of the A.O. Smith Corporation, his wife Agnes and their family. The villas courtyards, terraces, and Renaissance garden flowing down to the lake make it unique to Milwaukee. The permanent collection features fine and decorative arts from the 15th through the 18th centuries and the Cyril Colnik collection and archives, with many excellent examples of Colniks wrought-iron masterpieces. Curated exhibitions are mounted several times each year along with a variety of other arts programming.
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum

David Adler, Rose Standish Nichols |
Architectural style |
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Added to NRHP |
Villa Terrace is a historic house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was built in 1924 for the Lloyd R. Smith family – an Italian Renaissance-style home on a bluff above Lake Michigan. Since 1966 the house and grounds have housed the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Lloyd R. Smith House.
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All Good Things Come To An End
Lloyd died of a heart attack in 1944 at Sopra Mare. Agnes later remarried twice and most recently to John Curtis in 1966. That is when Agnes decided to donate the home to Milwaukee County as a Decorative Arts Museum. Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum was established. Agnes later died in 1981 and is buried next to Lloyd at Forest Home Cemetery.
At The Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museumapril 14 September 25 2022wednesday Through Sunday
Olmsted laid out what he believed to be the self-evident reason for establishing state and national parks, stressing their purpose, social values, and proper uses by the public. Citizens of all classes, he said, had the right to enjoy natural beauty, and the government should protect that right.
Frederick Law Olmsted, 1895
Oil on canvas, 100 x 55 in.
Courtesy of Biltmore House, Asheville, NC
The Friends of Villa Terrace presentIn the Park with Olmsted: A Vision for Milwaukee, an exhibition on the life and legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted and the first concerted look at the Father of Landscape Architectures contributions to Milwaukee. The history and evolution of the three public parks designed by Olmsted and his firmLake Park, Riverside Park and Washington Parkare showcased through a wide range of media, including archival maps, high-definition videos, and a three-dimensional model. Vintage postcards and historic images accompany contemporary photographs by local and nationally recognized artists to tell the story of Olmsteds profound influence on the greening of Americas cities through his ideal of parks for all people.
The exhibition, hosted by Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Art Museums and guest curated by Annemarie Sawkins and Martha Chaiklin, will include extensive programming and thoughtful presentations and conversations on Olmsteds democratic ideals, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice.
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Villa Terrace Is A Treasure
Villa Terrace has a beautiful courtyard garden with a fountain and statue of Mercury surrounded by a bushes and Italian charm. As you make it to the Lake Michigan side of the building you are captured by the terraced garden with a fountain that stretches down the terrace with 160 degree views of Lake Michigan. Villa Terrace is a treasure in Milwaukee and has some of the most beautiful and well-kept grounds in the city of Milwaukee. If you havent visited them, go in the summer when you can truly enjoy the beauty and the warmth that the Smith Family provided for their friends, family, and Milwaukee County. Have your camera ready!
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum And Its Collection
Villa Terrace is a historic house in Milwaukee , Wisconsin . It was built in 1924 for the Lloyd R. Smith family – an Italian Renaissance-style home on a bluff above Lake Michigan . Since 1966 the house and grounds have housed the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Lloyd R. Smith House .
Art & Design
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum
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Home Built For Family
Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, aka Sopra Mare was built for the Smith Family and Friends to be warm and welcoming. Lloyd and Agnes loved to entertain and their house became the center point of that montra. The children had their own wing to the house and Lloyd and Agnes had their quarters opposite them. The Smiths parties at Villa Terrace were widely known all over the city of Milwaukee especially around Christmas and Thanksgiving.
When Is Cafe Sopra Mare // How Much Does It Cost
During the winter , its the first Sunday of each month inside of the Villa Terrace Great room. Admission is $7 for general, $5 for seniors and students, and FREE for members! Coffee and pastries are a la carte.
During the Summer Months, its every Sunday! Entry to the courtyard where you may enjoy the music is FREE! Coffee and pastries are a la carte.
Enjoy the music between 10:30 AM -12:30. And when the musical guest is wrapping up, wander about the museum to experience our permanent collection, as well as the temporary exhibition.
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Villa Incognito: Latent Narratives In The Permanent Collection
The Villa Terrace is not only a home, but also a fantasy. Based on an Italian Renaissance villa, the mansions architectural style, decorative ornament, and objects dart are a carefully orchestrated masquerade in which Milwaukees urban environment fades into the distance and artfully framed views transform Lake Michigan into the Mediterranean Sea. This exhibition examines the mansion and a group of objects from the Villa Terrace collection, showing how various forms of imitation, synthesis, and symbolism are at work, and how these strategies work to create an idealized environment.
Can I Rent Houses Near Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum

Yes, of course. Vrbo has 195 Houses near Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Our other popular types of vacation rentals near Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum include:
- Studios: 187 rentals available
- Condos/Apartments: 217 rentals available
- Hotels: 9 rentals available
But you can also enjoy a great stay in one of our other vacation rentals including Cabins and more.
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What Is Admission
Admission to the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum is $10 for Adults, $7 for Seniors, $7 for Students and Military, children under the age of 12 are free. The first Wednesday of the month the admission to the museum is free. We know that you will love the charm and the history of this great destination at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Please see our link below for more information on admission and hours of operation as it is subject to change.