Mitchell Park Domes - Plan Your Visit

Admissions

Admission prices are per entry

Milwaukee County Residents: Receive discount on admission - ID required.

Adults: $9.00 | $8.00 residents
Military (active duty & veterans - ID required): $6.00
Seniors (60+): $9.00 | $6.00 residents
Adults with disabilities: $6.00

Juniors (3-12): $6.00
Students (with ID): $6.00
Children (2 & under): Free

Adult Group Rate (20 or more): $8.00 per person | $7.00 residents
Junior Group Rate (20 or more): $6.00 per person | $5.00 residents
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‍Last Thursday of Every Month: $5 per person (2 & under are free)
Sticker Wednesday: Free themed sticker with each paid admission

Friends of the Domes Members: Get free entry to the Domes for a full-year, plus other benefits.
‍AHS Members: Receive two free admissions.

Educational Field Trips are arranged through Friends of the Domes. Request a Friends of the Domes field trip >>

Self-Guided Group Visit Request for your group of 10+ people >>

Guided Group Tours: Explore the Domes with your own personal guide! Our Park Naturalist, Paula Zamiatowski shares her knowledge in a one-hour tour of the Domes, where you’ll focus on plants and trees with uniquely interesting features, vivid and fresh blooms, and original plant residents dating to the mid-1960s.
- Guided tours are available for family and adult groups of 10 or more visitors after paying the regular admission price. Group discounts do not apply to Guided Tours.
- There is a $1 surcharge per person for this service.
- Tours are available Wednesday through Saturday (two weeks notice requested).
- Participants will have an additional 30 minutes at the end of the tour to visit the gift shop or a favorite dome.

Request a Guided Group Tour

Strollers are welcome at the Domes, however, please keep in mind that some pathways will be a tight fit for double-wide strollers.

Pets are not allowed inside the Domes. Service dogs are allowed.

Gift Cards: All Milwaukee County Parks gift cards can be redeemed for dozens of uses, including admission to The Domes. Gift cards can be purchased online through Milwaukee County Parks.

What's Here?

Permanent Collection

The Domes include two permanent collections - the tropical 'jungle' dome and the arid 'desert' dome. Both Domes are open to the public year-round and stay nice and warm, even in the middle of winter. Visit at different times throughout the year to see different plants in bloom.

Within the Domes Atrium you'll also find a carnivorous plants exhibit and artifacts and images from the 120 history of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory.

Temporary Shows

As well as the permanent collections, the Floral Show Dome hosts five temporary exhibits (shows) each year. These shows run between six and 14 weeks and are included with general admission. During transition periods between shows, the Floral Show Dome is closed to the public.

Train Show: Jan-Mar
Spring Show: Apr-May
Summer Show: Jun-Sept
Fall Show: Sept-Nov
Winter Show: Nov-Jan

birds eye view of an outdoor circular garden, with green leaved plants designed to look like an oak leaf

Outdoor Gardens

Outside the Domes entrance you'll find our two pollinator gardens packed with bee-friendly native plants. The Monarch Butterfly Waystation Garden features the milkweed plants Monarchs feed on.

Education Center

The Education Center is an interactive place for visitors of all ages to learn about the natural world. The exhibits rotate quarterly so there is always something fun and new.

Access to the Education Center is included with Domes admission.
Open on Saturdays and Sundays: 9:30am-2:30pm

● Read a story in the reading nook
● Climb in the treehouse
● Hop to it and act like an animal on the interactive forest rug!
● Lay on your back and play ceiling I SPY
● Discover more about our Domes plants with the plant cart
● Check out a book from the Adult Education Library - gardening, horticulture, spices, rainforests, deserts, and more!

Hours vary during the week due to field trips and availability
Looking to book a field trip? Visit the Friends of the Domes website to learn more

The Education Center, Programming and Events are managed by Friends of the Domes

a brightly decorated skull, part of an ofrenda display at the Day of the Dead event

Additional Displays and Events

Throughout the year Friends of the Domes host one-day or weekend-long ticketed events, including themed horticultural shows such as a Bonsai show or an orchid show. Tickets for special events typically include full admission to the Domes.
View the calendar for upcoming FOD events

Show displays and activities including the popular Mothers Day weekend, Day of the Dead display, and Holiday Show special guests are included with general admission. Navigate to our current show page for information on any active show displays.

the show dome at night with hundreds of LED lights lit up in pink

Light Shows

The Floral Show Dome features thousands of LED lights which can be programmed with music to provide a spectacular light show. Look for special evening hours during the fall and winter for a chance to view a light show.

All three Domes also feature 'halo lights' which light up at night in a variety of colors.

entrance of the gift store with clothes hanging by the entrance and shelves of gifts inside

Gifts Under Glass

The Mitchell Park Domes gift shop, Gifts Under Glass, has a wonderful selection of local art items, books and educational toys, tropical plants, cacti and other succulents, and more!

Gifts Under Glass is managed by Friends of the Domes.

Greenhouse number 7 venue decorated for a wedding with bouquets of flowers in the foreground

Greenhouse No.7

Greenhouse No.7 is a separate event space within the Domes campus, managed by our hospitality partner Zilli Hospitality Group. Greenhouse No.7 hosts catered events, charity events and weddings. Events in Greenhouse No.7 do not always include entry to the Domes.

a group of five bridesmaids stand next to a bride in a wedding dress. All six women are holding bouquets and standing inside the desert dome

Photography

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_‍The Tropical, Desert and Show Domes make stunning backdrops for wedding or engagement photos. Formal photography is available during regular open-hours for small groups. A Photography Permit must be purchased to reserve time at the Domes to take photographs including, but not limited to wedding, engagement, maternity, graduation, quinceanera, and any formal family photography using the Domes as a backdrop.

Apply for a Photo Permit

Apply for a Daytime Wedding Ceremony Permit

KultureCity Sensory Kits

Sensory bags are designed to help sensory needs in both adults and children. Each bag is filled with items, including headphones and fidget gadgets, that can help lessen sensory overload and also engage, the bag items are also easily cleaned and sterilized for multiple uses.

Sensory bags are available to use for free, request one at the fee booth.

Plan Your Visit