Garden-Scale Trains Return to Mitchell Park Domes, Tour Seven Modern Wonders

Visitors to the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory’s Show Dome can follow garden-scale model trains through a miniature world tour of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, a seasonal exhibit that transforms the Domes’ winter landscape into a global tableau of plants and landmarks. Hayley Spitler of FOX6 previewed the show on site and reported on the immersive staging, noting the exhibit “will allow you to take a step inside history at The Mitchell Park Domes.”

The installation runs through March 22, 2026, with the Domes operating weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; last admission is one hour before closing. OnMilwaukee lists admission at $9 for Milwaukee County resident adults and $10 for non-resident adults, with children 2 and under free and kids 3–12, seniors 60+, students and military at $6.50. Tickets are $5 for everyone on the last Thursday of the month.

The show fills the Show Dome with more than 4,000 plants and uses approximately 600 feet of looping track - other coverage describes it as “more than 600 feet of track” - winding through pansies, miniature azalea trees and additional greenery. OnMilwaukee described the event as snaking “not only through pansies, miniature azalea trees and other greenery, but also through models of the seven modern wonders of the world,” with unique props and scene-setting elements that bring the landscapes to life. The conservatory itself maintains a permanent collection of over 1,800 plant species, giving the seasonal display a botanical backbone.

Doris Maki, Horticultural Director of the Mitchell Park Domes, framed the exhibit as a chance to widen perspective. “This year’s train show invites visitors to explore the world from a whole new perspective,” Maki said. “By blending iconic global destinations with living plant displays and hundreds of feet of train tracks, we’re creating an experience that inspires curiosity, wonder, and discovery for visitors of all ages.”

The Show Dome is one of several staged displays each year; the Domes Exhibit Designer helps make the show dome come to life 5 times per year. Special programming runs alongside the train exhibit, including the All Scale Train Show Jan. 31–Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., a Winter Silhouettes Bonsai Display on Feb. 22 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and a Steampunk Faire on March 7 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The Domes also offer Free Sticker Wednesday every week, with limited-edition stickers available while supplies last.

Community groups are visiting the exhibit: GHREC organized a Mitchell Park Domes Annual Train Show and Mars Cheese Castle trip for Jan. 22, 2026, departing the Sports Hub at 8:30 a.m., returning by 2:30 p.m., with registration fees $32 for residents and $37 for non-residents; the trip includes transportation and admission, stops at Mars Cheese Castle and lists Bill DePue, Program Supervisor, as contact at 630-260-6060.

FOX6’s preview framed the train show as tied to broader Domes support, noting “Hayley Spitler has a preview of this year’s gala that supports the future of the Domes.” For visitors, the exhibit offers a compact, family-friendly way to see detailed modeling and horticultural craft in one stop; plan to arrive before last admission, check weekend hours, and build extra time to browse vendor tables and special events scheduled during the run through March 22.