Unspecified/General

Within the celebrated Houston Museum of Natural Science in Hermann Park, the Cockrell Butterfly Center is a soaring, three-storey glass-walled rainforest conservatory inhabited by some two thousand free-flying butterflies of around sixty species drawn from rainforests around the world. The centre, which opened in 1994 thanks to a generous gift from the local Cockrell family, is one of the largest tropical butterfly habitats in the United States and a much-loved fixture for visitors to the museum. The visit unfolds along a meandering, accessible pathway that climbs gently through the centre's tropical foliage, beneath cascading vines, past a fifty-foot waterfall and over small pools where bright-orange koi glide beneath the water. Butterflies emerge silently from every direction, landing on visitors' shoulders, hands and the lavishly flowering plants. The atmosphere is warm and humid, deliberately so to replicate the rainforest conditions in which the species thrive. A glass-walled emergence chamber lets visitors watch new butterflies emerge from their chrysalises throughout the day, a moment that frequently draws small crowds. Beyond the butterflies, the centre is home to an array of complementary tropical species including small lizards and frogs, and a permanent insect zoo of tarantulas, mantises, beetles, ants and other oddities is among the most popular exhibits for younger visitors. Educational programmes, school tours, summer camps and a busy calendar of special events including night-time visits to the conservatory and themed butterfly releases round out the offering. Admission is sold separately from the main natural science museum, though combined passes offer good value. Entirely indoors, family-friendly and refreshingly tropical, the Cockrell Butterfly Center remains one of the most memorable visits within one of the largest natural history museums in the United States. Visitors are advised to wear bright colours, which appear to attract the butterflies, and to move slowly through the conservatory to give the gentle insects time to settle on hands, shoulders or fingertips. A typical visit lasts around forty-five minutes, easily extended by a wider exploration of the surrounding Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX, United States

Telephone: 713-639-4629

Website: hmns.org/cockrell-butterfly-center

Opening Date: 01/01/1994