Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
Mitchell Park Domes
Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Type	Public
Location	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Nearest city	Milwaukee
Area	45,000 square feet (4,200 m²)
Created	1959 (1959)

The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, also known as the Mitchell Park Domes or just The Domes, is a unique greenhouse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It's a popular spot where you can discover plants from many different parts of the world! The Domes are managed by the Milwaukee County Park System. They were built to replace an older conservatory that stood from 1898 to 1955.

About The Domes
- Repairs and Updates
Exploring the Domes
Mitchell Park History
Images for kids
Photo Gallery
See also

About The Domes

The Mitchell Park Domes were designed by Donald L. Grieb Associates. They are made up of three glass domes shaped like beehives. Each dome is about 140 feet (43 m) wide and 85 feet (26 m) tall. These were the first "conoidal" domes in the world, meaning they have a special cone-like shape.

The three domes cover a huge area of 45,000 square feet (4,200 m²) for plant displays. They were built in different stages between 1959 and 1967. A central lobby connects the three domes. This area was updated in 2008. There's also a smaller dome behind the main ones that holds extra plants and a collection of orchids. This smaller dome is not open to the public.

Repairs and Updates

In the summer of 2008, the Conservatory was closed for a while. Workers replaced about 800 cracked glass panels. The lobby was also remodeled, and a generous donation helped pay for a new lighting system inside and outside. The Conservatory reopened in October 2008 to many visitors.

Later, in February 2016, the Domes had to close again because of worries about their structure. By the end of 2016, temporary repairs allowed all three domes to welcome visitors once more. In 2017, a new greenhouse complex opened behind the Conservatory. This new area replaced older facilities that were located off-site.

In 2019, a study was done on the Domes because of their age and some falling concrete. The study suggested that the domes might need to be taken down. This would be a very expensive project.

Exploring the Domes

Each of the three main domes has its own special climate. This allows them to show off different types of plants from around the world.

The Show Dome

The Show Dome opened in December 1964. It hosts four different plant shows each year, plus a special holiday exhibit in December. These shows often have fun themes. Some themes have been based on cultures like Japanese, German, or French. Other shows have been inspired by books, like Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", or historical places.

In recent years, the Winter Show has featured a large garden railway display. This display is built with the help of many model railroad clubs in Wisconsin. It has become one of the most popular exhibits during the year. It's also one of the biggest indoor garden railway displays in the Midwest!

The Tropical Dome

The Tropical Dome opened in February 1966. This dome is home to almost 1,000 different kinds of plants! Many of these plants produce important fruits like bananas, papayas, guavas, and avocados. You can even see a cacao tree that is over 60 years old. It was moved from the old conservatory and still grows fruit every year.

You'll also find tall hardwood trees here, like different types of mahoganies. A rare curare vine also grows in this dome. The Tropical Dome is decorated with many beautiful blooming plants throughout the year, including award-winning orchids. A giant kapok tree stands in the center of the dome. It used to be 95 feet (29 m) tall, making it one of the tallest trees grown under glass! Now, its height is kept at a more manageable 60 feet (18 m). Besides plants, the Tropical Dome is also home to several colorful birds.

The Arid Dome

The Arid Dome opened in November 1967. This dome displays a wide variety of plants that thrive in dry climates. You'll find plants from the Americas and Africa here. The American section features many plants from the Sonoran Desert. These include shrubs, trees, and many different kinds of cacti.

The African section has plants like aloes and euphorbias. You can also see the unusual Welwitschia plant. This plant only has two leaves that grow continuously, and it can live for over a thousand years! Another part of the Arid Dome shows off succulent plants from Madagascar. Many of these plants were grown from seeds brought from Madagascar. This special area was officially opened in 1984 by the Ambassador from Madagascar.

In August 2006, a special plant called an Encephalartos ferox grew a rare double red cone. This was only the second time this had happened in over 30 years! These cones were expected to last for several months.

Mitchell Park History

Mitchell Park is one of the first six parks ever created in Milwaukee. It is located on the south side of the city. The park started with 5 acres (20,000 m2) of land. This land was given by John L. Mitchell, who was the father of General Billy Mitchell. The park was named after John L. Mitchell. More land was later added, bringing the park's total size to over 60 acres (240,000 m2).

At the park, on a bluff overlooking the Menomonee Valley, there is a monument. This monument marks the spot of an early trading post built by Jacques Vieau. Vieau was a settler and fur trader. He later became the father-in-law of Solomon Juneau, who helped found Milwaukee. South of the Conservatory, there used to be large formal gardens and a sunken water area. These opened in 1904 but were removed in the late 1980s due to budget cuts.