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Milwaukee County is home to over 950,000 people living in one of 19 communities, which range in size from the City of Milwaukee, with 595,000 residents, to the Village of River Hills, with roughly 1,600 residents.
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Find information about things to do and happenings in Milwaukee County.
Experience a desert oasis, a tropical jungle and floral gardens…all at one destination! The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, better known as The Domes, is one of the most unique destinations in Milwaukee.
Discover cacti, succulents, shrubs and desert palms in the Desert Dome. Enjoy five seasonal shows each year in the Floral Dome and walk among 1,200 species of rainforest plants in the Tropical Dome.
The Domes are open every day of the year and host special events and educational programs throughout the year. All exhibitions are included in admission and free for Members.
*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
** for Milwaukee County residents, excludes major holidays. ID required.
The Domes are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
All temporary exhibitions are included in admission and free for museum members.
Explore a summer garden inspired by the depths of the ocean. Colorful fish sculptures swirl around plants resembling those on the ocean's floor. A variety of bright succulents and vivid 'Under the Sea Series' coleus add to a decorative coral reef and sunken ship. The show is open daily, June 1 – Sept. 8, and is included with general admission to The Domes.
Five times a year the Show Dome transforms with unique, themed floral shows. Visit throughout the year for spring flowers, the annual train show and the popular Holiday Show.
Come to the deserts of Africa, Madagascar, South America and North America to see cacti, succulents, desert palms and even agave plants.
View the Desert Dome Map
In our microcosm of the rainforest, you'll encounter over 1,200 species of tropical plants, including chocolate, banana and vanilla plants.
View the Tropical Dome Map
The Floral Dome is transformed five times each year with a unique, seasonal display. Each Show Dome display has a specific theme, and plants on display are selected specifically for that theme. Shows last from six to 14 weeks. Entry to the Show Dome is included with general admission.
Bring a cherished stuffed animal and take a stroll through this childhood backyard garden display.
This holiday season, The Domes will be decked with a variety of ornaments, lights and decorations from the good old days.
The Domes are under attack! See spoofs of your favorite giant movie monsters during this fun and action-packed model train show.
The Mitchell Park Domes hosts a variety of ticketed events throughout the year, including Day of the Dead, Pirates and Princesses Day and a New Year's Eve celebration. View the events calendar for upcoming events and programs hosted at the Mitchell Park Domes & Annex.
Download the Special Events Flyer
View Events Calendar
The Education Center 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.
To book a self-guided tour or class larger than 10 adults or youths, call The Domes at (414) 257-5600, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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 & Greenhouses • Science & the Conservatory • Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory: Past, Present & 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).
Learn More
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
To book your ceremony during regular operating hours call (414) 257-5600
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 lobby and the Greenhouse Annex. Bookings are accepted up to three years in advance.
Private rentals, call (262) 547-9447
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.
Wedding Permit Application
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.
Permits cost $61.25 per hour + admission fees per person. Group admission rates for up to 50 people are also available.
Photography Permit Application
Commerical Photography Permit Application
524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215. (414) 257-5611
Free Parking Available
Wheelchair Accessible
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9480 Watertown Road Wauwatosa, WI 53226 (414) 257-PARK (7275)