The Domes

The Tropical dome at Mitchell Park. 1/2/25 dwm

It's been twelve years since we visited the Mitchell Park Domes in Milwaukee.

As a kid, it was one of the places our family would visit on what seemed to be annual trips to Wisconsin's biggest city with stops at the Milwaukee County Zoo and the "Domes."

There are three horticultural atmospheres - tropical, desert, and a show dome that changes over throughout the year for special presentations.

On this visit, it was decked with Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah displays. When we were there in January 2013, there was a large model train on display surrounded by plants of all descriptions.

The desert. 1/2/25 dwm

The desert display is permanent. For my money, it's the best place to spend time during Wisconsin's long winter. On this visit you couldn't see snow outside the glass dome, but it was wonderful to walk amidst the cactus and other plants enjoying the a different landscape than what's outside.

The park dates back to 1890 when it was one of the first five parks created in the young city. A conservatory greenhouse was under construction in 1898. It lasted into the 1940s when something new was needed. Work on the current domes began in 1959 and finished in 1967, according to the dome's website.

The admission charge is reasonable, $9 for adults. You can become a non-Milwaukee County resident member for $30 which provides free admission for you and a guest for the year. We took advantage of the deal and looking forward to future day trips to see what's new.

City leaders and interested citizens have been meeting about what the next version of the Domes and what it might take to get there. It comes with a big price tag, so it's a matter of priorities.

The Christmas show closed 1/5/25 dwm photo

It's a wonderful place to visit. There is an education center that young families were using the day we stopped. There was also a bus of older adults enjoying a field trip on a winter's day.

In the tropical dome, I heard but didn't see the birds that call it home, but did see Koi in the pond. A bearded dragon lizard known as Steve recently retired from his display in the desert, a note indicated it is living the rest of its life with its long-time keeper.

You can make your way through the domes in less than an hour or you can spend several hours taking it all in while basking in the warmth.