Cockrell Butterfly Center
Cockrell Butterfly Center
4.5
Science MuseumsNature & Wildlife Areas
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Next to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the glass-enclosed butterfly habitat includes a simulated rainforest and thousands of colorful butterflies. A dramatic 50-foot waterfall and exotic plants transport visitors.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles717 reviews
Excellent
522
Very good
160
Average
32
Poor
1
Terrible
2

Elle V
167 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
Got a tip to check this out and we were glad we did! This is not included with MSN admission. You start by looking at bug exhibits and then you enter the top of the rainforest. Have your camera handy and be ready to snap quick pics and videos as there are so many butterflies and they flutter about everywhere. You cannot actively try to get butterflies to land on you, but if you stay still long enough, you might get a visit from one of them. One landed on my daughter’s cell phone! You make your way down to the bottom where there are a couple more bug exhibits and that’s the end of the tour. It is warm in there, but not as bad as being outside on a hot, summer day.
Written June 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carol and Ray L
Lancaster, PA246 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
We really enjoyed our visit here. The butterflies were amazing and beautiful. One landed on the coat of one of our group and seemed to like the color, so stayed for awhile. The museum part was also very interesting.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

apflood
New Orleans, LA12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
This was a last minute stop waiting on the planetarium show. The exhibits were fascinating and incredible to watch butterflies hatch. There were lots of interactive learning exhibits. But of course the best part was going out into the butterfly house. I never thought it would be so much fun. I highly recommend this part of the museum.
Written June 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tom W
Katy, TX2,946 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019
We enjoyed the Cockrell Butterfly Center. Near the entrance of the center is a great Spider picture and Grasshopper.

There's many different butterflies in the Center. They congregate around the fruits and foods.

There is lots of pretty flowers and vegetation. There's even a Turtle and a 20 Year-Old Iguana.

We had tickets to the IMAX show. My only regret was I felt a little rushed through the Butterfly exhibit to get to the IMAX.

It's a tad pricey but worthwhile
Written December 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

gordonk825
Richmond39 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2018 • Couples
I will make this a short review. The Cockrell Butterfly Center is a wonderful place to take the whole family (just no strollers). It is not for anyone with walking concerns or if humidity is a problem. The museum is in two parts. One is inside the regular museum area with live insects and displays and can be viewed from a wheel chair and the other section is in a rain forest. Adults and will kids love it.
The consideration you need to make is where to park. If you can park anywhere but the parking garage, do it. I was at the Museum not long ago (24 May 2018) and could only park in the parking garage. We were there for just about an hour and it cost $20 for that short stay. Unless you intend to spend a long time in that area, the parking garage is not where I would go.
Written May 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Patricia W
Mt Juliet, United States27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2016 • Friends
The butterfly center is in the Science museum, but there is separate pricing. It's only $9 to get in. There is parking in the garage, but it's $20, or $10 if you bring your ticket and get it stamped. We went during the week, and went down a little further and parked by a park area for free. I don't know the name of the park, but it was just beautify! There were so many people there, even in the rain, taking pictures, running, walking, having fun with family...I encourage you to park at the park and walk through on the way to the center! If you're only going to the center, pass the BIG line, pass McDonalds, and go to the gift shop in the back. Buy your tickets there, and go right in. There are flutterby's everywhere! Look up, look down, look all around. There are some guide pictures, but they were downstairs,so we didn't get to see them before we went in. Be sure to ask for them. The butterflies are beautiful. There were a lot of people, but it didn't bother the butterflies. Very cool, and great for families.
Written April 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GeeGeeWhy
Sydney, Australia90 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Solo
Closed for renovation at the end of October. People at the front counter were quite curt.

Figured it’d be helpful to share before you decide to go.
Written October 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hope M
Columbus, OH37 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2017 • Solo
Wow! What a fun and interactive place for kids, students, and even adults. It was nice because you can just buy a ticket for the butterfly center which normally runs 9$, but they offer many discounts including AAA which made it only 6$. There is both an interactive section(s) before and after the man conservatory area with all the butterflies. Both offer a wide variety of information, things to see, touch, feel, etc. But the real treat is the actual butterfly/plant area. Hundreds of butterflies fill the air and plants alike making you feel like you are in a wonderland. There a multiple levels to walk along to see everything from all angles and heights. There are also docents walking around able to answer questions, offer butterfly guides, help find certain butterflies. If you are into plants, they also label many of them which was a nice touch. One thing I will say to not miss was the butterfly release which happens every Tuesday at 10:30. I watched from below since the release on the balcony, but if you want to hear more information about the release, I suggest standing on the balcony to watch. They also have many butterflies with stickers on their wings, which if you catch a picture, make sure to post it to instagram with a hashtag #cbcstudy. The center is doing a longevity study in order to chart how long the butterflies are living. Great way to keep yourself busy trying to find a sticker butterfly!
Written July 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MargaretMI1979
Canton, MI157 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2013 • Friends
Very interesting place to enjoy "natural" beauty.

The Cockrell Butterfly Center is located in the same building as the Natural Science Museum, although when you purchase a ticket, you are only purchasing a ticket to the butterfly center, not the museum, and vice versa.

There is a plethora of information available on bugs, butterflies, moths, ants, and every in between! They have a nice childrens area.

It's kind of an odd feeling to have all these butterflies flying around you, but you get used to it.

I wouldn't say you would spend a lot of time here, but it is worth a stop if you are going to the museums in the area!
Written October 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dustythoughts
Manchester, CT2,128 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
We came here to have a calm activity amidst the chaos of a family function, and we were so glad we did! It's set up as a rainforest (with a waterfall!) and has a wide variety of butterflies, and serves as both a butterfly sanctuary and an educational center for both butterflies and the ecologies in which they reside. There are also animals who live here, including iguanas, turtles, insects, bugs, and spiders. If you're lucky, the butterflies might land on you, giving you a personal, up-close view.
Written May 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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