Mitchell Park Domes

Admission

*Milwaukee County residents get $1 off entry. Resident Seniors (60+) get $3 off entry. ID required

Free First Thursdays Suspended in 2020

Due to COVID-19, the free-admission days for Milwaukee County residents are suspended. See other Milwaukee County free days.

Events & Programs

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 and Annex.

Download the Special Events Flyer

View Events Calendar

Group Tours & Educational Opportunities

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.

About the Plants

Desert Dome

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 Dome

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

Friends of The Domes

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:

• Free admission to the Conservatory during normal operating hours, 365 days a year
• Advance notice of special educational programs, speakers and exhibits, many of which are free or discounted to Friends of The Domes members
• A 10% discount in the Domes Gift Shop, Gifts Under Glass
• A quarterly newsletter
• Membership in the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admissions Program
• The satisfaction of supporting this unique and historic Milwaukee landmark!

Become a Member

Rentals at The Domes

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. 

Weddings at The Domes

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