Long before Milwaukee’s famous glass Domes, Mitchell Park was home to a beautiful Victorian conservatory, elaborate flower gardens, fountains, and a reflecting pool. Let’s take a trip back in time.
If you’re from Milwaukee, you’ve probably visited the Mitchell Park Domes at least once in your lifetime.
Maybe you went there on a school field trip, visited with your parents, or took your own children to see the beautiful flowers, tropical plants, and desert displays.
But let me ask you something.
Did you know Mitchell Park looked completely different before those three glass Domes were built?
And I’m not talking about a few little changes here and there.
I’m talking about a beautiful Victorian-style greenhouse that looked like something you would see in Europe, surrounded by fancy gardens, fountains, and walking paths.
Believe it or not, Milwaukee had all of that more than 100 years ago!
So let’s take it back and look at the history of Mitchell Park, how it started, what happened to the original conservatory, and how those famous Domes became one of Milwaukee’s most recognizable landmarks.
Before the Domes: Mitchell Park in the 1890s
Long before the Domes were built, Milwaukee was growing into a major industrial city.
Factories, breweries, businesses, and neighborhoods were expanding, and city leaders realized residents needed beautiful public spaces where they could relax and enjoy nature.
In 1890, Milwaukee’s newly established Park Commission acquired land for several public parks, including Mitchell Park.
The original park covered approximately 30 acres.
Twenty-five acres were purchased from John L. Mitchell for $60,000, while another five acres were donated.
And here’s something interesting. Mitchell Park was named in honor of John L. Mitchell,
whose family played an important role in Milwaukee’s early history.
By 1891, the park already featured a rustic stone fountain, a pavilion, and a small boathouse.
Eventually, the park expanded to more than 60 acres.
But Milwaukee wasn’t finished.
City leaders wanted something that would make Mitchell Park truly special.
And that’s when the idea for a beautiful indoor conservatory came along.
The Original Mitchell Park Conservatory: Built in 1898
Now this is where the story gets interesting!
In 1898, construction began on Milwaukee’s original horticultural conservatory.
And let me tell you, this wasn’t just some little greenhouse.
It was a grand Victorian-style glass building inspired by London’s famous Crystal Palace.
Imagine a beautiful glass structure with an elegant entrance, long greenhouse wings, and thousands of plants growing inside.
And guess who designed it?
Henry C. Koch, the same Milwaukee architect who designed Milwaukee City Hall!
That’s right! Two of Milwaukee’s most memorable historic buildings had a connection to the same architect.
The original conservatory opened to the public in 1899.
Inside, visitors could enjoy an incredible collection of plants, including palms, ferns, tropical plants, flowers, and other greenery.
Historical accounts describe the conservatory as containing approximately 75,000 plant specimens.
Just imagine walking into that beautiful glass building during a freezing Milwaukee winter and being surrounded by tropical plants and colorful flowers.
For people living in the late 1800s, that must have been an amazing experience.
And the best part? You didn’t have to leave Milwaukee to enjoy it.
The Beautiful Sunken Gardens
Now, if you think the original conservatory was beautiful, wait until you hear about the gardens outside!
Mitchell Park was once famous for its elaborate Sunken Gardens.
These weren’t ordinary flower beds.
The gardens featured carefully arranged flowers, decorative landscaping, fountains, walking paths, and a long reflecting pool.
The formal garden design was inspired by European landscapes, giving the park an elegant appearance.
People could walk along the pathways, admire the flowers, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Old photographs show just how beautiful this area really was.
And when you look at those pictures today, it’s almost hard to believe you’re looking at Milwaukee!
There were also rose gardens, with historical descriptions mentioning a rose mall containing approximately 1,200 roses.
Mitchell Park became known as a place where families, couples, and visitors could spend a relaxing afternoon surrounded by nature.
And here’s something I find especially interesting.
The Sunken Gardens existed long before the modern Domes, and they remained an important part of the park even after the new conservatory was built.
So when people talk about the history of Mitchell Park, we can’t forget those gardens.
They were a major part of what made the park special.
Why Was the Original Conservatory Torn Down?
Now you might be wondering, if the old conservatory was so beautiful, why did Milwaukee tear it down?
Well, after more than 50 years of use, the building was showing its age.
Think about it.
Milwaukee winters can be brutal, especially on a large glass building.
Between freezing temperatures, snow, ice, wind, and years of wear and tear, the original conservatory eventually developed serious maintenance and structural problems.
By the 1950s, officials determined the building was no longer safe or practical to repair.
So in 1955, Milwaukee demolished the original Victorian conservatory.
Just like that, a beautiful piece of Milwaukee’s architectural history was gone.
But Milwaukee wasn’t giving up on having a conservatory.
Instead, city leaders decided to build something completely different.
Something modern.
Something futuristic.
Something people had never seen before.
The Birth of the Mitchell Park Domes
In 1955, a design competition was launched for a new horticultural conservatory.
Architects submitted ideas for what Milwaukee’s next great greenhouse should look like.
And out of 33 competing designs, Milwaukee architect Donald L. Grieb came up with the winning concept.
His idea?
Three enormous glass structures shaped like beehives!
Now imagine being a Milwaukee resident in the 1950s and seeing drawings of these futuristic glass buildings.
They looked like something straight out of a science-fiction movie!
But Grieb’s design wasn’t just about looking different.
The unique shape allowed sunlight to enter the structures while providing enough height for large trees and other plants.
Construction officially began in 1959.
And unlike many construction projects, all three Domes weren’t built at once.
They were constructed in stages over several years.
This allowed Milwaukee County to spread the costs over multiple annual budgets.
The completed project cost approximately $4.5 million.
When Were the Mitchell Park Domes Built?
The three Domes were completed over an eight-year construction period, from 1959 to 1967.
The Floral Show Dome — 1964
The first Dome opened in December 1964.
It was designed for changing flower shows and seasonal displays.
This is where generations of Milwaukee families have enjoyed beautiful Christmas displays, spring flower shows, and other themed exhibits.
The Tropical Dome — 1966
The second Dome opened in February 1966.
Inside, visitors could experience a warm, humid tropical environment filled with lush greenery, tall trees, and exotic plants.
Imagine going from a cold Milwaukee winter into what feels like a tropical rainforest!
The Desert Dome — 1967
The third and final Dome opened in October 1967.
This one recreated dry desert environments, featuring cacti, succulents, and other plants adapted to hot, arid climates.
By the end of 1967, all three Domes were completed.
And Milwaukee had a new landmark.
A First Lady Came to Milwaukee for the Domes
Here’s another interesting piece of history!
In the fall of 1965, First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson, visited Milwaukee and participated in the dedication of the Mitchell Park Domes.
Think about that!
A First Lady of the United States came to Milwaukee to help celebrate this remarkable new attraction.
And remember, at that time, only the first Dome had been completed.
The Tropical and Desert Domes were still to come.
That visit showed just how important and impressive the project was considered during the 1960s.
What Makes the Domes So Special?
One of the most amazing things about the Mitchell Park Domes is their unusual design.
Each Dome measures approximately 140 feet across and rises 85 feet high.
But here’s something many people don’t realize.
The Domes are not ordinary geodesic domes.
They are actually conoidal structures, with a distinctive beehive-like shape.
Their design is considered a rare achievement in architecture and engineering.
The glass and structural framework allow natural light to reach the plants, while ventilation and climate-control systems help maintain the different environments inside.
And that’s what makes the Domes so impressive.
You can experience three completely different growing environments without leaving the same building complex.
One minute you’re looking at beautiful seasonal flowers.
The next you’re surrounded by tropical greenery.
And a few minutes later, you’re walking through a desert landscape.
All right here in Milwaukee!
What Happened to the Old Sunken Gardens?
Now here’s a part of the story that might surprise some people.
The original Sunken Gardens didn’t disappear immediately when the old conservatory was demolished.
They continued to be part of Mitchell Park for decades.
However, changing park priorities, maintenance challenges, and funding problems eventually took their toll.
The Sunken Gardens were abandoned in 1990.
For people who remember the beautiful landscaping and reflecting pools, that was another major change in Mitchell Park’s history.
But the gardens have not been forgotten.
Plans to revitalize Mitchell Park have included restoring the historic garden area and reconnecting the park with its horticultural roots.
That means future generations may get to experience some of the beauty that made Mitchell Park famous more than a century ago.
Mitchell Park Today: A Milwaukee Landmark Worth Remembering
For generations, the Mitchell Park Domes have been part of Milwaukee family memories.
School field trips.
Holiday flower shows.
Family outings.
Photographs.
And those cold winter days when stepping inside the Tropical Dome felt like taking a little vacation.
But when you look at the old photographs of Mitchell Park, you realize something.
The history of this place didn’t begin with the Domes.
Long before those three glass structures became famous, Milwaukee had a magnificent Victorian conservatory and beautiful gardens that attracted visitors from across the city.
And even before that, Mitchell Park was part of Milwaukee’s early effort to create public green spaces for its growing population.
That’s more than 130 years of history!
So the next time you’re driving near South 27th Street and Layton Boulevard and see those three glass Domes, think about what used to stand there.
Think about the old Victorian greenhouse.
The fountains.
The flower gardens.
The reflecting pool.
And all the generations of Milwaukee residents who visited this special place before us.
Sometimes we get so used to seeing a landmark that we forget there’s an entire story behind it.
And that’s exactly why I love sharing Milwaukee history.
Because there’s so much more to our city than what we see today.
- Location: 524 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215
- Hours: Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday–Sunday & Holidays: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
- Admission: Adults $9–$10; Seniors, Youth, and Veterans $6.50–$10; Ages 0–2 free (payable at the door)
- Parking: Free on-site parking is available
- The Three Domes:
- Floral Show Dome: Features five rotating seasonal flower and plant displays annually.
- Tropical Dome: Houses around 1,200 rainforest plant species, palms, orchids, and a waterfall.
- Desert Dome: Features cacti, succulents, shrubs, and desert palms from arid regions worldwide
414 Milwaukee Mil Town — Keeping Milwaukee’s History Alive!
Do you remember visiting the Mitchell Park Domes when you were younger? Or do you remember the old Sunken Gardens? Share your memories in the comments below!
