Sadly, the Butterfly Pavilion is permanently closed.
Did you know Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History boasts an indoor Butterfly Pavilion, home to hundreds of live, fluttering butterflies? Even better? This unique feature is free on select days.
The Butterfly Pavilion is a brightly lit, climate-controlled environment (80°) where you can stroll among butterflies and blooming plants. Butterflies fly freely around the Pavilion, landing on plants and sometimes people! You’ll see butterflies from all over the world, including the US, Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia.
On most †Tuesdays, admission is free! The Pavilion is open Tuesday through Saturday and requires the purchase of timed-entry tickets (available only on-site at the Butterfly Pavilion Ticket Desk). However, on Tuesdays, admission is free. Please note that you should always call ahead to confirm, as access to this special exhibit may be subject to last-minute closures.
As with other weekdays, a timed-entry ticket is still required (available only on-site at the Butterfly Pavilion Ticket Desk). Please keep in mind that this opportunity is very popular, so it’s wise to visit the museum early and go straight to the ticket desk for your timed-entry pass (there’s always a chance it could “sell out”). See all the important details at the link below.
Great for kids, the 2nd-floor Butterfly Pavilion is adjacent to the Insect Zoo — the oldest continuously operating insect zoo in the United States! The zoo features many species of live insects, a nursery room where visitors can peek at insect larvae and pupae, and lots of opportunities to interact with volunteers and examine insects up close.
Details:
Website
Dates:
Wed-Sat (fee-based) ∙ Tues (free admission*)
Location:
National Museum of Natural History ∙ Wash, DC
†Always call ahead to confirm, as access to this special exhibit might experience last-minute closures.
Disclaimer: Event details are curated from public sources and subject to change. Verify all information via the provided links before attending.
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