Hand-drawn plans from many of the Milwaukee County parks. Photos from nearly a century ago. Even the landscaping plans from the Domes over the years.
All of that and more are still preserved -- in various degrees of organization -- in the basement of the Milwaukee County Parks headquarters.
Interestingly, the building wasn't always home to the parks department, but it was always operated by the county. It used to be the Milwaukee Home For Dependent Children, essentially an orphanage.
Listen to this week's episode of Urban Spelunking above, and be sure to read Bobby's complete story at OnMilwaukee.com for even more history.
Milwaukee County Parks Headquarters, inside the former Milwaukee Home for Dependent Children, 9508 W. Watertown Plank Rd. 
Beautiful wooden details abound, including the original grand staircase. 
Rumors of attic hauntings have been reported, but neither Bobby nor I observed anything. 
In the basement, rolls and rolls of original plans for county parks parks and buildings are tucked away, in no particular order. 
Here's a topographic map of Bay View's Humboldt Park, dating back to 1934. 
A closer look at the Humboldt map elevation map.
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