Cockrell Butterfly Center – Houston Museum of Natural Science

Within the 16 permanent exhibits at the Houston Museum of Natural Science is the Cockrell Butterfly Center, a three-story glass enclosed tropical ecosystem that includes a 50-foot waterfall.

Plants in the tropical conservatory include many beautiful orchids, cacao trees, gingers and spiral gingers, prayer plants, heliconias, milkweeds, pentas, and many more.

Butterflies from all over the world can be found in the conservatory including owl butterflies, longwing butterflies, Thoas Swallowtails, Red Peacock Butterflies, Rice Paper Butterflies, Green Triangle Kite Butterflies, and many others.

The exhibits surrounding the rain forest conservatory feature arthropods, an immersive bee exhibit for small children, and a location where you can speak with entomologists about the importance of insects and see insect specimens up close.

ACCESSIBILITY: The museum is wheelchair accessible and offers a special app addressing accessibility for physical, sensory sensitives and autism spectrum disorder, blind and low vision, and deaf and hard of hearing. Wheelchairs are available for visitors to borrow at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis.