Once you enter the museum, you'll have the option to visit numerous permanent exhibits including North America's largest dinosaur hall and one of the most extensive gem and geode collections in the United States. The museum is perfect for families, tourists, and locals and offers refreshments and food at the cafe. Your ticket also grants you access to a 3-story glass structure filled with butterflies built around a 50-foot waterfall. This simulated tropical rain forest is filled with exotic plants and thousands of live butterflies. As you walk through at your own pace, feast your eyes on a rainbow of color provided by the thousands of live, fluttering butterflies and exotic flowering plant species. Absorb all the beauty of the living rain forest, and then make your way to the Brown Hall of Entomology and witness astounding living insects, spectacular mounted specimens, larger-than-life models, and interactive games.
The day was expensive (including a 30$ charge for parking that was not planned for), but the day out with my young grandson was a once in this trip joy. A fabulous way to end his two week stay. The butterfly exhibit was spectacular and the permanent exhibits inspired a young boy's imagination. All in all, a perfect day.
Loved visiting the HMMS and the butterfly exhibit 😌 saved us about 10$ ( after tax) buying the tickets 🎟️ on here vs the website! Also its very helpful for skipping lines. We were there for 3 hours and we definitely needed to go back to see everything! Overall the experience was great with the exception of a few unsupervised children running around.
There is so much to see here! We should have gotten there earlier as we spent three hours just in the butterfly conservatory and fossil exhibits. It was easy to get to riding the MetroRail and a scenic walk. Highly recommended
Didn’t have enough time to get to everything. Mainly, went for the Butterfly sanctuary! Beautiful, peaceful, plants in there are gorgeous! Unique butterflies, birds and a waterfall!
There were so many cool things to see. My boyfriend and I had a fantastic time! The butterfly center was my favorite part!
I used Viator to purchase tickets for events at the Muesum of Natural Science in downtown Houston. Viator made it easy and extremely convenient to reserve and pickup tickets. We had a great time and it was hassle free and no waiting in long lines.
The exhibits here are amazing! Very informational and entertaining for both Adults and Children of all ages. The butterfly exhibit was spectacular!
If you are in need of a peaceful setting where you can see numerous beautiful butterflies in the air and landing everywhere (including you if you are lucky) then be sure to come here. It is a separate and extra charge exhibit at the Museum of Natural Science near the zoo area. Look for Mr. Asaud on the middle level to explain what you are seeing.
I love the outdoors and butterflies. This was such a nice tranquil place and I wish we could have just sat there all day. The staff and space were so nice and peaceful.
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.
Try not to get lost in the expansive exhibits offered. The Butterfly Center is a must. Make sure you slow down while inside. Take a moment to sit. After you've completed your visit, wander across the street to Hermann Park for a stroll.
I could not get and neither could. Had to buy direct…. Horrible and embarrassing situation!!!!!!!! Will never ever use your services again!!!!!!!!!!
Parking $30, and the tickets cheaper at the museum. Had to pay extra to see other parts of the museum; of course the lines are long even with tickets you have to go to the booth.
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 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!
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!
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.
Very beautiful and peaceful experience. The butterflies are quite friendly and unbothered by people staring and taking pics. I would definitely go again!
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.
Enter into the rainforest to see butterflies. So many of different colors fly around, land in you, watch them eat fruit Up close
On my bucket list forever that I thought I’d have to do alone, but on a trip I brought up the Cockrell Butterfly Center and family loved it.
The area overall was very calming and beautiful. There are also iguanas, and turtles to see. The waterfall is relaxing. There isn't a lot of areas to sit and rest because it's not that long of a walking exhibit.
Butterfly landed on my sister’s back as she is trying to take a picture of one like it. The blue ones
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.
Said there were no more availability when I purchased a ticket from trip advisor. I need a refund. Will never go back based off how they treated me and my wife.
It was an amazing experience. Plenty of beautiful butterflies I’ve never seen before and I def recommend for friends and family to go.
Very interactive and educational. The combination of engagement through games plus ability to slow down and sit with the butterflies is unparalleled.
Beautiful place with a perfect view of pretty butterflies and exotic plants. Well put together information journey before entering the butterfly center.
Nice visit with Mom! Lovely day inside out. Rainy Houston and beautiful butterflies. Great weather in the arboretum .
Loved it! So many beautiful butterflies flying around you! You have to be quick with your camera, some of them are camera shy or don’t want to sit still. Lol Definitely recommend! Will visit again.
I had a wonderful day at the museum. The rain forest was incredibly fun. What a lasting and memorable experience we had.
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.
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
It was a very beautiful and engaging experience. We will definitely be back to see this exhibit and museum again.
My 6 YO granddaughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon at Cockrell. Everyone, workers and visitors, were so kind and friendly.
Loved the blue butterflies and the space for all of them!!!!!! 10/10 would recommend to a friend. Had a great time
Fun day with the butterflies. Love the waterfall. Great for toddlers with plenty of toddler size activity.
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!!
Beautiful place full of exotic plants and butterflies. Loved having butterflies land on me and stay there while touring the rainforest
The butterflies were amazing ; however it was very confusing how to enter the exhibit not very clear on signage ; also there were a large group of prom kids and parents who were stopping and taking pics blocking the walkway there should I have been an attendant in the exhibit to prevent the continually blocked path
I purchased on line thinking it was going to work like other online ticket sites. No. Downloaded a paper that still makes you stand in line for over 30-45 minutes to get the actual tickets. Complete rip-off and extremely misleading.
Such a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere! I enjoyed every second! I cannot for my next visit, I’ll be sure to bring my professional camera !
Had a good trip short but sweet parking was rough but overall it was good. Nothing else to say about this trip
Beautiful butterflies, great exhibit. Recommend buying tickets online and then joining the member line.
The experience was amazing! Very educational and beautiful! A Rice Paper butterfly landed on my granddaughters dress. We were mesmerized watching it sit there for several minutes. My granddaughter did not want to leave and has been asking to go back for another visit! Very special!!❤️
I bought 2 tickets online and when I got there I was told they were sold out… the guy at the front was no help and basically told me I would have to come back the next day and I asked what happens if they sell out again and I was told to come early so it doesn’t happen…
Don’t buy your tickets ahead of time through TripAdvisor!!! It doesn’t do anything to save you a spot in the museum or the butterfly center. The way they stated it online it made me think that we would be able to access the butterfly center when we arrived since we had bought the tickets ahead of time which is not true. That only works if you buy the tickets ahead of time directly through the museum so do that instead of the TripAdvisor tickets!!
Must visit place . It's a world of Butterflies. Very peaceful and beautiful place. Variety of butterflies you can find there . Go and enjoy its worth it
Great fun! Even saved a butterfly from being squished. Overall had a wonderful time, will go again for sure.
Such a beautiful and amazing place would love to go back again someday. Staff was great and friendly and the price can’t be beat
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