Plan Your Visit
During Your Visit
At Pacific Science Center
Tropical Butterfly House
New butterflies take flight each week, and each visit features a different mix of species. Take a peek into the emerging window to see butterflies in their chrysalis stage. You might even see a butterfly emerging from its cocoon! Read the Fresh Sheet report on the PacSci Blog to see what species will be fluttering around each week.
The Tropical Butterfly House also features interesting plants including the trees that give us coffee, cocoa and cinnamon. Some plants feed the butterflies with nectar-rich flowers, or give them resting spots when they take a break from flying. Others like the Voodoo Lily are just cool!
Curiosity Never Closes: Support PacSci
While we are closed to the public, we are still serving the community. We depend on support from you.
Preparing For Your Visit
While butterflies are completely harmless to people, they are very delicate animals. Please do not touch any butterflies. Butterflies occasionally land on guests, so when leaving you are asked to help us check for any accidental hitchhikers.
The Tropical Butterfly House walkways are too narrow for strollers, but there is plenty of stroller parking nearby. Food is not allowed in the Butterfly House.
Here are some additional resources for your visit:
- Butterfly Identification Guide (En Español)
- Butterfly House Plant Identification Guide (En Español)
- Do some research before visiting with our Discussion Ideas & Activities
- Braille guides are available upon request
- An audio guide is available here
Members Get More
Ignite your curiosity day after day! Members enjoy unlimited free admission for a year, discounts on events and programs, invitations to exclusive events, as well as passes and discounts on IMAX and Laser shows, and ticketed VR experiences.
Upcoming Events
Nature Journaling (Best for Grades PreK-2)
Wildlife Scientist (Best for Grades K-8)
Flying in the Time of COVID-19
Ecosystem Extravaganza (Best for Grades 3-8)
Sourcing Our Butterflies
PacSci purchases the butterflies in our exhibit as chrysalis from farmers who raise them in their countries of origin. These farms not only sustain butterfly species, but also the habitats that support a host of other organisms.
If you raised butterflies at home or for a class and are looking to responsibly find them a home, Pacific Science Center can accept them and will release them into the Tropical Butterfly House. Please contact our Animal Care team at butterflies@pacsci.org before bringing any butterflies to the Science Center. The Animal Care team will work with you to arrange a good release time and provide any additional information.
Adopt a Butterfly
Starting at just $50, your adoption helps care for the butterflies in the Tropical Butterfly House and supports of PacSci’s hands-on science programming. You’ll receive some exclusive benefits for your generosity, too.
During Your Visit
At Pacific Science Center