A Milwaukee Landmark Just Turned One of Its Giant Glass Domes Into Ancient Egypt
If you can’t make it to Egypt, Milwaukee has another option. The Mitchell Park Domes have transformed one of their giant glass domes into a pyramid-themed space with Egyptian-inspired decorations and plenty of fall flowers.
The new show, Treasure of the MUMmies, runs through November 8 inside the Floral Show Dome. Visitors will find chrysanthemums, marigolds, and papyrus growing around sculptures and other details inspired by ancient Egypt.
This is still a horticultural show, so don’t expect a museum full of real ancient artifacts. Instead, the plants are worked right into the Egyptian theme.
The exhibit is included with regular admission to the Domes. Adult tickets are $9 for Milwaukee County residents and $10 for everyone else, while kids ages 3 to 12 are $6.50. Children 2 and under get in free.
Ancient Egypt Took Over The Show Dome
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The Show Dome changes several times a year, but this fall it has been turned into what Milwaukee County calls a “crystalline pyramid.”
Visitors can walk through gardens filled with mums, marigolds and papyrus while checking out Egyptian-inspired sculptures throughout the display.
Each of the three Mitchell Park Domes is 140 feet across and 85 feet tall, with about 15,000 square feet of space for plants. The Milwaukee Domes Alliance says the Floral Show Dome was the first of the three to be completed, opening in 1964.
The Domes Have Been Around For Decades
The giant glass structures have been part of Milwaukee’s skyline since the 1960s. Architect Donald L. Grieb won a design competition for the project in 1955. Construction began in 1959, followed by the Show Dome in 1964, the Tropical Dome in 1966, and the Desert Dome in 1967.
Today, the three domes hold more than 1,800 plant species from around the world. The Tropical Dome alone has about 1,200 species, while the Desert Dome features plants from places including Africa, Madagascar and the Americas.
There Is More Coming In October
The Egyptian show isn’t the only special event happening at the Domes this fall. On October 30, the Desert Dome will be decorated for Día de los Muertos. Students from the surrounding community are creating traditional ofrendas for the event.
Visitors can also expect a mariachi band, dancers, food and art vendors, and hands-on activities. The celebration runs from 6 to 9 p.m.
Treasure of the MUMmies stays open through November 8. The Show Dome will then close temporarily while crews install the next seasonal display.
