At the live butterfly exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, you’re given the unique opportunity to see 300 to 400 tropical butterflies up close- so close that you’re guaranteed plenty of breathtaking pictures and a few new fluttering friends as well. Although this exhibit is not new to the museum, as it was completed in 2008, it is certainly one of the most timeless and popular ones.
The indoor pavilion is made to the mimic the most ideal habitat butterflies could ever find. It is meticulously kept at 80 degrees year round, with a gentle mist sprayed every few minutes to ensure a steady humidity at a balmy 80%. Additionally, there are more beautiful and fragrant flowers than the butterflies could ever want, and a “fruit bar” in which they enjoy nectar from a choice a cantaloupe, pineapple, and several other tropical fruits. This is definitely a butterfly’s dream!
Six days a week the tickets cost $6/per person (group discounts are available and vary based on the size of the group), but there are free tickets available every Tuesday! Tickets are available online to be purchased ahead of time at http://butterflies.si.edu/. These fees help offset the costs of running the exhibit which range from $800,000 to $1,000,000 annually. A trip to the butterfly exhibit is one that you won’t soon forget!