Audubon Insectarium facts for kids
Previous Main entrance, U.S. Custom House
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| Date opened | June 13, 2008 |
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| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Coordinates | 29°57′00″N 90°03′50″W / 29.950012°N 90.063968°W |
The Audubon Insectarium is a special museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It's all about insects and other amazing bugs! Think of it like a zoo, but for the tiny creatures that crawl, fly, and buzz around us.
This museum is part of the larger Audubon Nature Institute. It used to be located in a big building called the U.S. Custom House Federal Building. However, the Insectarium moved to a new home. It reopened on June 8, 2023, right next to the Audubon Aquarium.
Contents
What is an Insectarium?
An insectarium is a place where you can learn all about insects. It's like a museum and a zoo combined for bugs. You can see live insects from all over the world. You can also learn about their lives and how important they are.
Exploring the World of Bugs
The Audubon Insectarium used to be the biggest museum in America just for insects. It had over 50 live exhibits. These exhibits showed off many different kinds of bugs. There were also cool multimedia displays. These helped visitors learn even more about the insect world. The whole place was about 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m2) in size.
History of the Insectarium
The Audubon Insectarium first opened its doors on June 13, 2008. It quickly became a popular spot. People loved learning about the fascinating world of insects.
Awards and Recognition
Just one year after opening, the Insectarium received a special award. In 2009, it won the Thea Award. This award is given for outstanding achievements in science centers. It showed that the Insectarium was a really great place to visit and learn.
A New Home for the Bugs
In September 2020, the Audubon Nature Institute announced a big change. The Insectarium had to close temporarily. This was because of money problems. Many places faced similar challenges at that time.
Moving to the Aquarium
To keep the insect exhibits going, a plan was made. Some of the Insectarium's exhibits were moved. They found a new home inside the Audubon Aquarium. This means visitors can now enjoy both fish and bugs in one trip! The Insectarium officially reopened at its new location on June 8, 2023.
