Favorite facts (Tech Specs) about the Milwaukee Domes

The Milwaukee Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservancy, "Domes," are a treasure uniquely Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Domes have so many interesting discoveries to be made. While corners in the Domes can be elusive, there is something new to discover just around every ‘corner' in the Milwaukee Domes. Did you ever wonder how thousands of plant species could be protected from insects and parasites in the Domes with no pesticides? As a child did you count every pane of glass in the Milwaukee Domes? If so, do you remember how many there are? Did you know the Milwaukee Domes were introduced to the world by a famous first lady? Check out a few of the interesting facts about the Milwaukee Domes below. These Milwaukee trivia facts are just a tip of the fascinating, Milwaukee Domes iceberg. Come to the Domes and experience one of the wonders of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for yourself. For a truly amazing Domes experience rent them for your next Private Party, Corporate Event , or Wedding.

Design: Donald Grieb, a local architect, won the design competition an and construction began in 1959.

Size: 1 acre under glass; each dome is 140 feet across by 85 feet high (7 stories) from the lobby floor; 750,000 cubic feet.

Shape: The world's only conodial (not geodesic) glass house; the shape allows a better angle for solar heating and more height for tall trees.

Structure: Concrete frame with an aluminum and glass skin; estimated value - $33,000,000.

Glass: Approximately 2,200 panes in each Dome; 1/4" thick wire-glass imported from Germany.

Annual Attendance: About 200,000 people including 20,000 students visit the Domes annually; patrons from 100 different countries have visited.

Age: The Show Dome - dedicated by First Lady, Mrs. Ladybird Johnson - opened in December 1964, the Tropical Dome in February 1966; the Desert Dome in October 1967.

Rarest Collection: Madgegascar collection in the Desert Dome .

Tallest Tree: The Kapok, Ceiba Pentandra, in the Tropical Dome which requires annual pruning.

Wildlife: 20 species of birds, 4 species of lizards, a variety of frogs, toads, fish, and bio-control insect species as needed.

Watering: The plants are watered by hand every day. City water is pumped into a water tank in the basement and then heated. The Tropical Dome also makes use of an extensive misting system.

Pest Control: No pesticides except soap are used on plant pests - also insects are imported to deal with specific pests.

Heating: 3 one million BTU low-pressure boilers fueled with natural gas with a fuel oil backup system.

Cooling: A fan system around the base and at the top of each Dome keeps them ventilated by blowing air in or out as needed. A complete air change can be made in 3 1/2 minutes.

Getting To The Top: A maintenance elevator is suspended inside the top of each Dome and can be lowered to within a few feet of the floor.

Gift Shop: Operated by Friends of the Domes to generate funding for educational programming.

Staff:6 full time horticulturist; 16 other staff members, full and part-time.