Butterfly Pavilion

Tickets can be purchased in person at the National Museum of Natural History.

At the Museum, tickets can be purchased using debit or credit card only at the ticket desk on the second floor, off the Rotunda and above the Mammals Hall, adjacent to the Butterfly Pavilion entrance.

Please review your order carefully prior to purchasing tickets; all tickets purchased are final sale. Refunds and exchanges are prohibited.

The Butterfly Pavilion is free every Tuesday, but timed-entry tickets are required. These tickets are available only at the Ticket Desk located on the second floor outside of the entrance to the Butterfly Pavilion.

Tickets are available beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays. The Pavilion opens at 10:15 a.m., and the final entry is at 4:00 p.m. Pavilion capacity is limited; it is advisable to come early to secure tickets.

There are no group discounts for the Butterfly Pavilion at this time. Groups are welcome to purchase tickets on-site at the ticketing desk. All groups must adhere to the chaperone policy below.

All children under the age of 13 are required to be accompanied by an adult.

Additionally, every 10 students or children admitted into the Butterfly Pavilion must be accompanied by at least one adult.

The Pavilion capacity is limited. To avoid overcrowding, visitors are not admitted until their designated time; if some visitors from the previous time slot are still in the Pavilion, new visitors will be admitted up to the maximum. As visitors leave, those remaining for the designated time slot will be admitted. New visitors are not allowed into the space before their designated entry time.

Every 10 students or children admitted into the Butterfly Pavilion must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Can I still enter if it is after my scheduled entry time?

We do our best to accommodate late arrivals, if space is available. Should you arrive after your designated entry time, please see one of the Visitor Experience Associates stationed right outside the Butterfly Pavilion Desk on the second floor.

The Butterfly Pavilion is wheelchair accessible.

Elevators are located just inside the entrances from the National Mall and Constitution Avenue.

Service Animals are welcome within the Pavilion, but must remain under the handler’s control at all times. A service animal will be asked to leave the Pavilion should they destroy the living plants or butterflies.

For more information on accessibility at Natural History, including parking, entrances, food services and more, please visit our Accessibility web page.

Strollers and tripods are not permitted inside the Pavilion. Young, stroller-age children may walk through with supervision, or be carried. Strollers may be left outside the entrance of the Butterfly Pavilion at owner’s risk.