New York families can step out of the autumn chill and into the tropics at the American Museum of Natural History, where the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium fills the Richard Gilder Center with hundreds of free-flying butterflies.
Inspired by the museum’s beloved seasonal Butterfly Conservatory, this year-round gallery features up to 80 species in flight at a time, drawn from more than 130 species featured in the gallery — from the neon-colored common green birdwing to the starry night cracker and the monarch. A separate display introduces moths, including the massive atlas moth, one of the largest insects on the planet.
Kids love the pupae incubator, where rows of chrysalises let visitors watch adult butterflies emerge, and the daily ID board — updated every day with an illustrated card for each species in flight — turns the visit into a joyful treasure hunt. Micro-environments of tropical plants, a digital microscope and interactive displays highlight the important roles butterflies and moths play in ecosystems around the world.
The vivarium sits on Floor 2 of the Gilder Center at 200 Central Park West, and museum members see it free. Pair it with the museum’s new Monarch’s Journey illustrated panels and the famous fossil halls for a full family day on the Upper West Side. Timed tickets are available at amnh.org.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
