Butterfly Gardens and Conservatories
in the Great Lakes Region


It was only a few years ago that insect zoos were a novelty, and a few pioneering institutions such as the Smithsonian and the Cincinnati Zoo had such as exhibits. Now, butterfly gardens and conservatories attract the public to a world that few will ever see in the wild. These displays are becoming ever more popular and new exhibits are opening all the time. This list is very likely not complete, but hopefully it will be useful for planning your next vacation.

Be sure to call or write ahead of time to make sure the exhibit will still be open when you visit -- some of these are seasonal, especially in the more northerly areas. In some instances, these exhibits may only be temporary, not permanent.

 

For information on other butterfly exhibits, go to the Butterfly Website where all the sites in the world are listed.


ILLINOIS

Brookfield Zoo -- 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513, Phone 312-485-0263.

Illinios State Museum -- Corner of Spring and Edwards, Springield, IL 62706.


MICHIGAN

Above images from Mackinac Island Butterfly House

Binder Park Zoo -- 7400 Division Street, Battle Creek, MI 49017.

John Ball Zoological Garden -- 201 Market Street, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Mackinac Island Butterfly House -- Sawyers Greenhouse, 1308 McGaulpin, Mackinac Island, MI 49757, Phone 906-847-3972. Open Memorial Day - Labor Day, closed in winter months.

Michigan State University Butterfly House -- Dept. of Entomology, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI 48824-1115 phone 517-355-1803. Open year-round: intimate, and well-maintained.

Detroit Zoological Park -- 8450 W. 10 Mile road, Royal Oak, MI 48068. Open year-round, and VERY NICE!

Saginaw Children's Zoo -- 1435 S. Washington, Saginaw, MI 48601.

Suguaro Rare Plant Nursery -- 470W 5 mile Rd., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189. phone 313-449-4237. Open from May-October.


NEW YORK

American Museum of Natural History -- Biology of Invertebrates Hall, 79th Street and Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, Phone 212-769-5000.


OHIO

Cincinnati Zoo Insectarium -- 3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45220, Phone 513-281-4701.

Cleveland Zoo Butterfly House -- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Brookside Park Drive., Cleveland, OH 44109. Phone: 216- 661-7511.

Musser's Butterfly Farm -- RR #7, 13200 Fulton Road, Sidney, OH 45365.

Toledo Zoo -- 2700 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609; Phone: 419-385-5721. Not all that great, but the stick insects are cool.


PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia Zoo -- Philadelphia, PA.