Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, also known as Mitchell Park Domes, is a large public greenhouse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It opened in 1964 after five years of construction and is run by the Milwaukee County Park System. It replaced the earlier Milwaukee Conservatory, which stood from 1898 to 1955.
Three domes, each with its own climate
- Floral Show Dome: hosts four seasonal shows and a December holiday exhibit each year.
- Tropical Dome: home to about 1,000 plant species, including fruiting plants like banana, cacao, papaya, and others. A tall kapok tree dominates the center.
- Desert Dome: features plants from the Americas and Africa, including cacti, aloes, and unusual species like Welwitschia. It also displays Madagascar’s succulent plants.
Key history
- Construction began in 1959 and the domes opened in 1964 (Floral), 1966 (Tropical), and 1967 (Desert).
- 2008: a major restoration closed the domes in June and the lobby was remodeled; they reopened in October 2008.
- 2016: the domes closed in February due to structural concerns but all three were reopened by the end of the year.
- 2017: a greenhouse complex behind the Conservatory opened to replace off-site facilities.
- 2019: a study recommended demolishing the domes at a cost of about $300 million; this was opposed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and others.
- November 2024: plans were approved for renovations.
About Mitchell Park
Mitchell Park is one of six original Milwaukee parks. It began with a core of about 5 acres donated by John L. Mitchell and expanded to just over 60 acres. The park area also marks the site of an early trading post. Nearby, a formal garden and sunken water feature opened in 1904 but were removed in the late 1980s due to budget cuts.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 04:50 (CET).