Houston Museum of Natural Science and Cockrell Butterfly Center

Name: Houston Museum of Natural Science and Cockrell Butterfly Center
Brand: Houston Museum of Natural Science
SKU: 40629P4
Price: 34.00 USD
Rating: 4.5 (101 reviews)

Badge of ExcellenceHouston, USA

The Cockrell Butterfly Center Admission in Houston

3 to 4 hours
Offered in: English

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Overview

When visiting the Houston Museum of Natural Science, take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of the butterflies and insects at the Cockrell Butterfly Center and Brown Hall of Entomology. The entrance ticket admits you to both exhibits where you can see both live and preserved specimens, and learn about them with interactive games and displays. Explore a rain forest environment with a 3-floor butterfly habitat, get a close look at a range of insects, and visit a play area for kids.

Entrance ticket to Cockrell Butterfly Center at Houston Museum of Natural Science
Stroll through the 3-story rain forest exhibit to observe butterflies and plants up close
Learn all about insects in the Brown Hall of Entomology
Let the kids play with educational games in the Land of Beeyond

What's Included

Cockrell Butterfly Center admission
Houston Museum of Natural Science permanent exhibits admission

Food and drinks
Guide

Meeting and Pickup

Start time

Opening hours

1/1/2025 - 2/28/2025
Monday - Saturday : 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Sunday : 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM

What To Expect

During your visit to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, head to the Cockrell Butterfly Center and show your entrance ticket to enter the exhibit.

Walk through a three-story glass structure that simulates a tropical rain forest, complete with a 50-foot waterfall. The glass-enclosed rain forest is home to exotic flowering plants and thousands of live butterflies that flutter around the exhibit.

Continue to the Brown Hall of Entomology to view live insects, mounted specimens, and larger-than-life insect models. In the displays, search for camouflaged creatures, watch leaf cutter ants at work, learn how insects can help solve crimes, see giant wasp nests, and check out some of Houston’s largest cockroaches.

Peek into an entomologist’s lab for a close look at insect specimens and listen to interviews with working entomologists. Learn about butterfly-friendly gardens, backyard beekeeping, and ways to control mosquitoes.

In the Chrysalis Corner, have the chance to see butterflies emerge from their chrysalis and dry their wings, then get released into the rain forest. Kids enjoy the The Land of Beeyond on the main level, where they can play in a giant beehive, make insect rubbings, read insect picture books, and put together puzzles.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Children must be accompanied by an adult

Your tickets will be held at the box office in exchange for Viator voucher
Please be aware that this is a live animal exhibit, which can be overwhelming to service animals. If your service animal or the animals inside become agitated through vocalization, urination/excretion, or aggressive behavior, we may ask that your service animal step out of this area of the Museum.
Strollers are not allowed in the Butterfly Center, but there is stroller parking available nearby.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 75 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

101 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 101 reviews

Great museum visit, but butterfly exhibit is closed through March 2024

Laura_K, Feb 2024

We had a great day visiting the museum! However the butterfly exhibit is closed through March, so we did not get to use that part of what we purchased. The museum gave us vouchers to do it in the future. I had asked if we could just trade the unused butterfly tickets for something else (like planetarium) but the vouchers for future butterfly entry were what was offered. We had a great time regardless, but we likely won't return any time soon just to visit the butterflies as we live about an hour away.

Horrible experience

Sandy_M, Aug 2023

I could not get and neither could. Had to buy direct…. Horrible and embarrassing situation!!!!!!!! Will never ever use your services again!!!!!!!!!!

Great Time

Maranda_M, Jul 2023

I’m visiting family in Texas. This was an amazing experience. Daughter had a great time. Had some butterflies land of us.

The most memorable part...

Amber_L, Jul 2023

The most memorable part of the butterfly exhibit was the whimsical atmosphere. I felt like I was in a forest dreamland with gorgeous butterflies all around me. Highly recommend!

Great time with the grandkids

Ronald_B, Jul 2023

The exhibits approaching the pyramid were interesting and engaging for the 6 through 9-year olds we took. Inside, there were lots of beautiful butterflies and moths and the girls were delighted!

Birthday celebration

Miranda_R, Jun 2023

It was my daughter’s 14th birthday so we decided to take her here to celebrate. What adventure we were on. We really enjoyed the butterflies, the waterfall and all the plants. It was beautiful.

A favorite and a must see.

mathewspam59, Jun 2023

The sheer beauty of the whole atrium with butterfly’s flutter flying around the entire atrium, around your head and body, and then to see them eating on the many food stations for them was an awesome experience. It was entirely beautiful.

Butterfly

ERICKA_C, May 2023

Enter into the rainforest to see butterflies. So many of different colors fly around, land in you, watch them eat fruit Up close

Tough work

Angela_W, May 2023

Butterfly landed on my sister’s back as she is trying to take a picture of one like it. The blue ones

Once in, it is a wonderful experience

Brian_T, May 2023

When the parking garage is full, uts raining, and the drop zone is 50 yards from a wheel chair ramo and entry, its not accommodating while dropping off an 88 year old mom and driving several blocks to find a space while hoping she can get to the entrance...no covered bench/sitting area nearby. Leaving was also a challenge that can be averted/remedied by the museum execs. with an accommodating drop zone.

Amazing

Christian_R, Aug 2022

It was an amazing experience. Plenty of beautiful butterflies I’ve never seen before and I def recommend for friends and family to go.

Butterflies on my mind, not in my tummy

Brandis_K, Aug 2022

Very interactive and educational. The combination of engagement through games plus ability to slow down and sit with the butterflies is unparalleled.

Butterfly Mom

Stephanie_C, Jul 2022

Nice visit with Mom! Lovely day inside out. Rainy Houston and beautiful butterflies. Great weather in the arboretum .

Butterflies!!

Erin_T, Jul 2022

I had a wonderful day at the museum. The rain forest was incredibly fun. What a lasting and memorable experience we had.

Educational and beautiful

Anthony_D, Jul 2022

I love how you walk in an area where you can educate yourself in the variety of different insects species before you get to the rainforest where all the live butterflies are located.

def go if you are thinking about it

Irais_F, Jul 2022

it was cool looking at the insects and bugs. but the butterfly dome was super fun. very humid at the top tho but once u get down it’s nice and cool

Immerse yourself in nature

Lacey_A, Jul 2022

It was a very beautiful and engaging experience. We will definitely be back to see this exhibit and museum again.

Loved the blue...

Angela_S, Jun 2022

Loved the blue butterflies and the space for all of them!!!!!! 10/10 would recommend to a friend. Had a great time

Toddler fun

Sara_B, Jun 2022

Fun day with the butterflies. Love the waterfall. Great for toddlers with plenty of toddler size activity.

If you go…

April_H, Jun 2022

Loved this. So magical of a place!! Will go back! I will say, don’t bring your kids if they are scared of butterflies, it’s a little awkward for the people who do. Plus they can potentially injure them. Also, not letting kids just “grab” a butterfly. Limited amounts of kids should be a thing, in my opinion but amazing place!!

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