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Feel the heat of a desert oasis, the humidity of a tropical jungle and the bright colors of a floral garden…all at one destination! The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, better known as The Domes, is a living museum filled with plants from across the globe. Visit Milwaukee's most unique destination.
The Domes host special events and educational programs throughout the year. All exhibitions are included in admission and free for members.
View Our COVID-19 Guidelines
*The Floral Show Dome will not have a display when it is transitioning between major shows.
*Milwaukee County residents get $1 off entry. Resident Seniors (60+) get $3 off entry. ID required
Due to COVID-19, the free-admission days for Milwaukee County residents are suspended. See other Milwaukee County free days.
Due to COVID-19, The Domes have updated their viewing guidelines:
All temporary exhibitions are included in admission and free for Friends of The Domes members.
A celebration of everything that can be found in Milwaukee County Parks, from picnic areas and beer gardens, to hiking trails and golf courses.
Five times a year the Floral Show Dome transforms with unique, themed floral shows. Visit throughout the year for spring flowers, the annual train show and the popular Holiday Show.
Explore the deserts of Africa, Madagascar, South America and North America. Snap a selfie by giant cacti, seek out succulents, agave and more, and meet Steve, our resident bearded dragon.
View the Desert Dome Map
Step into the steamy rainsforest and transport yourself to another world. As you explore the jungle look for coffee beans, cocoa pods, bananas and even sausage fruit! You'll find 1,200 species of plant in this dome.
View the Tropical Dome Map
The Floral Show Dome transforms five times each year with seasonal displays designed to spark your imagination and showcase seasonal flowers. Shows are between six and 14 weeks and are included with general admission.
A collection of all things that Milwaukee County Parks provides, including picnic areas, beer gardens, trails and golf.
A focus on new and unique forest species set alongside our fall mum collection.
Continue – or start! – a family tradition of visiting The Domes during the holidays.
While no in-person special events are currently planned, watch for special virtual events coming soon! View the events calendar for upcoming events and programs hosted at the Mitchell Park Domes and Annex.
View Events Calendar
The Education Center, managed by the Friends of the Domes, offers programming for grades K5 – 12, college, adults, companies, homeschoolers, travel agencies and all youth groups throughout the year. There is an additional charge for guided tours and educational programs.
Learn More
Each tour is $9/adult. There is a minimum of 20 paid adults per group tour.
Your time with a guide will last 90 minutes. During that time you will be guided through the Show and Desert domes and a self-guided restorative stroll through the Tropical Dome with time left for the gift shop or to revisit a dome. Tours must be reserved three weeks ahead and prepaid five business days before the tour date.
• Around The Domes in 60 Minutes • Best of the Season • Horticulture: From Seed to Plant • Mitchell Park, Conservatory and Greenhouses • Science and the Conservatory • Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory: Past, Present and Future
Book a Guided Tour
School Groups: $7/student* (minimum 20 paid students) *All Milwaukee County schools or groups will receive a $1 discount with proof of address
Programming reflects core concepts for each grade.
Kindergarten: Plants, Animals & Their Habitat
1st Grade: What Do Plants & Animals Need to Survive
2nd Grade: Teamwork & the Surroundings
3rd Grade: Environmental Impacts on Plants & Animals
4th Grade: Life Cycles and Traits of Plants & Animals
5th Grade: Energy in Ecosystems
6th-8th Grades: Ecosystems & Human Impact
9th-12th Grades: Biogeography or Resources:
Arrange a Group Visit
The deserts of the American Southwest as well as Africa, Madagascar, South America and Mexico are represented in the Desert Dome. The Desert Dome is divided geographically into Old Word and New World habitats. Visit the Sonoran, Northern Mexico and even mountainous South American desert plantings. Enjoy the Madagascar collection, where endangered and unusual plant forms find sanctuary, and the South African and Canary Island collections, where you may just see some familiar plants. Around the pool in the oasis, find native crop plants and an ethnobotanical garden.
Tropical rainforests, covering five continents but less than 7 percent of the Earth's land surface, are home to over 15 million species of plants and animals. Rainforests are the most productive and diverse of the Earth's ecosystems.
In this Dome you'll find tropical fruit trees including star fruit (Averrhoa) and guava (Psidium guajava). You'll discover the source of chocolate and cocoa (Theobroma cacao) as well as flavorings such as vanilla from the vining vanilla orchid. You will also find spices such as cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), turmeric (Curcuma longa) and black pepper (Piper nigrum).
The Friends of The Domes is a non-profit support group for The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory. They organize educational programs and special events at The Domes and manage The Domes Gift Shop.
As a Friend of The Domes member, you will receive:
Become a Member
Rent Milwaukee’s most unique venue for your next event. Rental spaces include The Domes, the lobby area and the Greenhouse. For very large events, food and beverage stations may be scattered throughout The Domes.
The Domes offer a one-of-a-kind destination for your event or wedding. Seated events can accommodate 275 guests; cocktail events, up to 500 guests. Air-conditioning and Wi-Fi are available in the lobby area only.
Zilli Hospitality Group is the exclusive caterer at The Domes; this includes both food and beverage. For rental inquires, contact Zillis at (262) 547-9447.
Available: Year round, evenings
Capacity: 275 for seated dinner or 500 for cocktail event
Get More Details
The Mitchell Park Greenhouse, adjacent to the Mitchell Park Domes, gives your guests the illusion of being outside with views that cannot be replicated at any other site. Seated events may accommodate up to 250 guests; cocktail events, up to 600 guests.
Zilli Hospitality Group is the exclusive caterer at The Domes; this includes both food and beverage. For rental inquiries, contact Zillis at (262) 547-9447.
Capacity: 250 for seated dinner or 600 for cocktail event
For a truly unique wedding, have your ceremony, for up to 50 people, in the Tropical, Desert or Show dome at the Mitchell Park Domes during regular hours. Bookings are accepted up to three years in advance.
Availabilty: Year-round during normal operating hours except on days when special events are scheduled.
Time Period per Ceremony Permit: Two hours
Capacity: 50
During Regular Operating Hours: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are not taking wedding permit requests at this time.
After-hours Ceremony: For an after-hours ceremony, larger private rentals are available and may include a reception. In addition to using the three domes, private events may be held in the and the Greenhouse Annex. Bookings are accepted up to three years in advance. Private rentals, call (262) 547-9447
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are not taking wedding permit requests at this time.
Wedding ceremonies with up to 50 guests can be held in the Tropical, Desert or Show domes at any time of the year during regular public open hours. A ceremony permit is required for ceremonies, plus admission per person. Permits are for two hours and include photography at your selected site. For private ceremonies, an after-hours rental is required.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are not taking photography permit requests at this time.
The Tropical, Arid and Show domes make stunning backdrops for wedding or engagement photos. A Photography Permit must be completed, approved by Domes management, processed and payment received to reserve time at the Domes to take photographs.
The Friends of The Domes, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, directly channels both financial and volunteer resources – along with staff time – to make possible many of the educational, scientific and cultural programs at Milwaukee's Living Landmark.
The Friends of the Domes mission is to promote and support the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory and the surrounding park by creating and enhancing the visitor experience of this globally significant urban destination.
Learn More!
If you have plants that for one reason or another you no longer want, consider donating them to The Domes!
To begin the donation process, snap a photo or two of your plant, then fill out the application. Next, a Milwaukee County Parks horticulturists will review your application. If your plant is accepted, you will be contacted to arrange a time for you to bring the plant to The Domes.
Complete Your Plant Donation Application
524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215. (414) 257-5600
Free Parking Available
Wheelchair Accessible
Gift Shop
9480 W. Watertown Plank Road Wauwatosa, WI 53226 (414) 257-PARK (7275)
