Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park Domes Named One Of America’s Most Endangered Historic Sites

Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park Domes have been named on the National Trust for Historic Preservation 2016 list of most endangered historic places. The Domes earned one of the 11 spots on the list. When they were built, they were the first cone-shaped domes in the world.

Dawn McCarthy, Milwaukee Preservation Alliance president, said the domes deserve to be on the national preservation list because they are historically significant.

“They’re the only building of their type in the world,” McCarthy said. “The engineering for the structure was patented by the architect Donald Grieb and the community was telling us that by (and) large they support restoring the domes.”

The conservatory housed inside the historic buildings recently reopened following renovations after debris fell from the ceiling earlier this year. Milwaukee County officials estimate repairs for the landmark could cost as much as $70 million and some questioned whether the repairs should be done.

Jason Haas, a county board supervisor and chair of the parks committee, said the estimate amount depends on who you ask, but he believes the repairs can be done.

“Yes, the county can do this,” Haas said. “We have to decide what things get fixed, what things are improved. I also want to look at if there are new technologies that are available, for instance new glass fittings.”

Haas said they could look into public funding options such as bonds or a sales tax increase. He said they are also creating a dome task force that will report to the board about steps to take to preserve the domes.

McCarthy said although being on the list doesn’t come with a guarantee of financial help, it does help raise awareness and could lead to more resources being put toward efforts to save the domes.

Donald Grieb Jr. said his dad turned 98 earlier this year and still has pictures of the domes on his walls.

According to the national organization, more than 270 sites have been on the list throughout its 29-year history, but less than 5 percent of the sites have been lost.

Also included on the list is the Delta Queen steamboat, which is currently docked in Louisiana. The wooden steamboat was built in 1926 and in years past, made stops in Wisconsin along the Upper Mississippi River.