Butterfly icon

Tropical Butterfly House

Butterfly icon

Tropical Butterfly House

Ongoing
Included in General Admission
Wheelchair Accessible

Step Into a World of Wonder

Experience hundreds of breathtaking butterflies in their tropical habitat. Practice your powers of observation with our butterfly and plant identification guides.

Attacus atlas
(Atlas moth)
Morpho peleides
Morpho peleides
(Common Blue Morpho)
Papilio memnon

Did you know?

All of our butterflies come from sustainable farms around the world.

Curiosity Takes Flight

New Butterflies Emerging Weekly

  • 10 – Adelpha fessonia
  • 22 – Battus belus
  • 19 – Battus polydamas
  • 6 – Caligo eurilochus
  • 50 – Caligo memnon
  • 35 – Colobura dirce
  • 9 – Dryas iulia
  • 10 – Eueides isabella
  • 15 – Greta oto
  • 27 – Hamadryas feronia
  • 38 – Heliconius charitonius
  • 37 – Heliconius hecale
  • 4 – Heliconius melpomene
  • 28 – Heliconius sara
  • 58 – Heraclides anchisiades
  • 36 – Hypna clytemnestra
  • 17 – Mechanitis polymnia
  • 84 – Morpho peleides
  • 33 – Myselia cyaniris
  • 4 – Opsiphanes tamarindi
  • 5 – Parides iphidamas
  • 10 – Phoebis sennae
  • 66 – Siproeta stelenes

A Tropical Wonderland

Have you ever examined the trees that give us coffee, cocoa, and cinnamon up close? The plants in our Tropical Butterfly House delight the senses with unique colors, textures, and smells.

Ananas comosus, Pineapple
Ananas comosus, Pineapple
Begonia ferox, Fierce Begonia
Begonia ferox, Fierce Begonia
Duranta erecta, Golden Dewdrop
Duranta erecta, Golden Dewdrop

Did you know?

Some plants feed the butterflies with nectar-rich flowers, or give them resting spots when they take a break from flying.

Sourcing Our Butterflies

All of our butterflies are sustainably raised by farmers in tropical locales around the world, and they’re sent to us in their chrysalis stage. The farmers we choose to work with focus on native butterfly conservation and sustainable farming practices—butterflies are never taken from the wild for our exhibit.

If you raised butterflies at home or in your classroom and are looking to find them a good home, chances are we can welcome them into our kaleidoscope—yes, that’s what a group of butterflies is called! Please contact our Butterflies Team to learn more and arrange a possible release day and time.

Help Keep Our Butterflies Safe

  • Butterflies are completely harmless to people, but they are very delicate. Please watch your step and take care not to touch any butterflies. 
  • The Tropical Butterfly House walkways are too narrow for strollers, and strollers could harm our winged friends. Please leave strollers in the parking area outside the habitat.  
  • If a butterfly lands on you, wait patiently for it to be on its way. Please help us check for accidental hitchhikers as you leave. 
  • For the health and safety of our butterflies, organic materials are not allowed in the Tropical Butterfly House.

Discover the magic behind the scenes

360° Videos by Ernie Flowers

Learn how we partner with sustainable vendors and support conservation efforts.
Meet our popular Atlas Moth, the world’s largest moth.

Our Supporters

Generous support provided by The Pendleton & Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation.

Additional support comes from more than 1,500 individuals, companies and foundations that donate to Pacific Science Center each year, as well as more than 13,000 member households from every corner of Washington State and around the country. Learn more about ways you can support the Tropical Butterfly House and Pacific Science Center.