TRAVEL GUIDE

Wisconsin Travel and the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory

Have you ever wanted to be in 3 places at the same time? Why not make the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory a part of your Wisconsin travels! Here you will find 3 bee-hived shaped domes that have their own unique climate and settings. Experience the exotic plants from the deserts of Africa, Madagascar, South America and North America in the Arid Dome, then walk in the jungle-like trails of the Tropical Dome and see a rich diversity of plants from the rainforests of five continents. Lastly come visit the themed floral exhibit filling the Floral Show Dome with gardens of color!

Facts

If you are interesting in making this unique horticultural conservatory a part of your Wisconsin travels, read up on the following! This conservatory replaced the original Milwaukee conservatory that stood from 1898 to 1955. It has three beehive-shaped glass domes that span at 140 feet in diameter and are 85 feet high! Did you know that these massive domes cover 15,000 square feet of display area? As one of Milwaukee's premier attractions, the conservatory boasts over 150 different floral displays and was constructed in stages from 1959 to 1967 at a cost of $45 million! The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory was dedicated to Lyndon B. Johnson by this wife Lady Bird Johnson.

Floral Show Dome

This dome was completed in December 1904 - making it the oldest of the 3 domes at the conservatory. Each year, there are 4 seasonal shows and one holiday exhibit in December. Each show has a theme based on culture (i.e.: Japanese), literary (i.e.: Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol") or historical interest (i.e.: History of Herb Gardening). One of the most popular displays during the year is the winter show that features an extensive garden railway display. In fact, this exhibit is one of the largest indoor Garden Railroad displays in the Midwest and is definitely a must-see during your Wisconsin travels!

Tropical Dome

Come explore the lush and colorful plants of the rainforests! Since its opening in February 1966, this dome houses over 1,000 species of plants as well as exotic birds and iguanas! Here you will also find many economically important fruit bearing plants such as banana, papaya, guava and cacao. Did you know that the Tropical Dome has a Cacao tree that is over 60 years old? It was transplanted form the old conservatory! At the centre of the dome you will find a large kapok tree that stands 60 feet tall! It is one of the tallest trees under glass! Indulge your senses with the wide variety of spices found in the garden, such as cardamom and black pepper.

Arid Dome

Before continuing with your Wisconsin travels, don't forget to visit the Arid Dome! Opened in November 1968, this dome has a wide variety of plants from the Americas as well as Africa. In the American section you will find plants that are native to the Sonoran Desert. This includes shrubs, trees, annuals and the popular cacti. As you explore the African section you will find plants such as aloes, crassulas, and the unusual Welwitschia plant. This plant only has 2 leaves that grow continuously and can live for over 1,000 years! There is also a section in the dome that hosts succulent flora of Madagascar. Here you will find Euphobia, Didierea, Adenia and much more! This section was dedicated to the conservatory by Leon Rajaobelina (ambassador of Madagascar) in September 8th 1984.

Location and Admission

The Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory is located at 524 S. Layton Boulevard, Milwaukee. It is opened daily from 9-5pm (365 days a year) but the Floral Show Dome is closed for about two weeks during each exhibit change. Admission is as follows:

• Adults 18 and up ($5)
• Youth 6-17 ($3.50)
• Disabilities ($3.50)
• Milwaukee county senior 60+ ($3.50 with proof of residency)

The conservatory is free to all Milwaukee county residents with proof of residency on Mondays from 9-11:30am (excluding major holidays).