There's No Other House On Earth Quite Like This One In Milwaukee

Also known as the Mary Nohl Art Environment or the Fox Point Witch’s House, this eclectic house in Fox Point has been watched, loved, and talked about for decades.

Mary Nohl was a Milwaukeean, a teacher, and—first and foremost—an artist. She graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1937 and was an incredible teacher at many schools until she decided to move back to her parents cottage in Fox Point to focus on her own artwork.

From the 1960s until her passing in 2001, Mary turned her childhood home into a work of art. She took the charming cottage and created dozens of sculptures from concrete, sand, driftwood, wire, and anything else she could find. This art yard has wind chimes hanging from the trees and wood from boats on the sides: it’s a truly resourceful work of art.

Not only was Mary a sculptor, she also painted and made jewelry. All of her pieces reflect the life of a whimsical woman who was also well-traveled and well-cultured.

In 2012, ownership transferred to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center and later was threatened to be dismantled and rebuilt at a public site in Sheboygan.

As of 2006, the Mary Nohl House is a National Registered Landmark.

Her solitary life as an artist started many rumors about Mary Nohl being "a witch," and her unusual house has Milwaukeeans telling tall tales. Though it’s fun to imagine such stories, Mary Nohl was an incredible woman. In addition to her life’s work transforming her cottage, her estate of over $11 million was donated to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and used to fund the Mary Nohl Foundation, providing arts education for children and artists’ scholarships, and so much more.

Many remember going by the "witch’s house" to scare their friends, or merely admire the art beyond the gates. To this day, the house is visited by many, though at this time it is closed to the public. The National Landmark will continue to be adored from the sidewalks. Mary Nohl's Art Environment is located at 7328 N. Beach Rd., Fox Point.