The Seattle Traveler

Although it may be cold outside, the Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House enjoys sunshine, 80-degree weather, and 70 percent humidity, 365 days a year.  Keep your eye on the beautiful plants and flowers, and you’d swear you were in the tropics.

The climate-controlled environment of the Butterfly House is a living exhibit, home to exotic trees, flowering plants, and hundred of butterflies.  Those beautiful flying creatures have complete right-of-way in their home.  Look around you, and you’ll see them flying and flitting about, eating, sunning themselves, and occasionally frolicking with one another.  And be careful where you step – butterflies frequently stop for a drink of water from the puddles on the ground.

Throughout the Butterfly House you’ll find laminated identification cards.  Pick one up as you enter, and use it to identify the many species that you’ll see.  At various points throughout the exhibit you’ll see fruit plates put out.  Butterflies love bananas and oranges, and flock to the fruit to eat.  Stand around a few minutes to watch them.  Their dining habits are amazing.  Don’t forget to look up and down, you’ll find them everywhere.

Although touching the butterflies is not permitted, you may find that one lands on you.  Today, one of the larger ones (in photo at right) perched itself on my hand for a couple minutes.  It’s amazing to watch one at that close of range.

Location:  Pacific Science Center, Seattle Center Campus, near the Space Needle.  The Butterfly House is located in Building #2.

Times:  Winter Hours are weekdays, 10 am – 5 pm, and weekends, 10 am – 6 pm.

Admission:  $10 adults, $8.50 seniors (65+), $7 juniors (ages 3-12).

Food and beverages are not permitted in the Butterfly House.  Butterflies are fragile creatures, and touching or chasing them is not allowed. 

Be sure to bring your camera.  There are lots of good opportunities for photos.

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