Milwaukee, Wis. – The nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory (the Domes) is entering a new era. The Friends of the Domes is now the Milwaukee Domes Alliance. This evolution reflects the organization’s broader mission to inspire meaningful connections to nature and community, while advancing efforts to preserve and reimagine Milwaukee’s beloved horticultural conservatory.
Since 1989, Milwaukee Domes Alliance has partnered with Milwaukee County to support the Domes and surrounding park through educational programming and visitor experiences. Over the years, its role has grown to include coordinating field trips, operating the gift shop, and championing the restoration of this treasured facility.
“The Domes are a national treasure and unique asset to Milwaukee and the state, offering a place of retreat, discovery, and inspiration,” said Christa Beall Diefenbach, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Domes Alliance. “Through our own experiences – and growing research – we can see how essential nature is to our well-being. We’re excited to move forward with a renewed focus on conservation, wellness, and community connection.”
For 60 years, the Domes have provided a space for the community to connect with nature and one another. However, due to decades of deferred maintenance, the facility requires significant investment to secure its viability for generations to come. In November 2024, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the ‘Domes Reimagined Plan’, pledging up to $30 million in public funding in support of the plan as part of a public-private campaign. The financially sustainable plan and business model includes a visitor experience with new features like a children’s garden, nature learning center, expanded gift shop, and café.
The Milwaukee Domes Alliance invites the public to help its vision for the Domes become a reality. To learn more about the organization’s mission, upcoming projects and ways to get involved, visit MilwaukeeDomes.org.
About the Milwaukee Domes Alliance:
The Milwaukee Domes Alliance is a nonprofit organization managing the operations of Milwaukee’s only indoor botanical gardens, the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, known locally as the Domes. By fostering meaningful connections to nature and community, the organization aims to provide inspirational experiences that restore connections to nature and community in a one-of-a-kind horticultural oasis at the heart of Milwaukee. Learn more and support our organization by visiting MiilwaukeeDomes.org
