Butterfly House, Missouri Botanical Garden facts for kids
Exterior view of Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, Missouri Botanical Garden, July 2007
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| Date opened | September 18, 1998 |
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| Location | Chesterfield, Missouri, Missouri |
| Coordinates | 38°39′53″N 90°32′34″W / 38.664625°N 90.542832°W |
| No. of animals | 2000 |
| No. of species | 80 |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House is a special place where you can see lots of butterflies! It's like a zoo, but for butterflies. It's run by the Missouri Botanical Garden and is located in Chesterfield, Missouri, in the United States.
This amazing Butterfly House is approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This means it follows high standards for animal care and education.
Contents
How the Butterfly House Started
The idea for the Butterfly House began in June 1997. Workers started building it then. The doors first opened to visitors on September 18, 1998.
In the year 2000, a special outdoor area was added. This area is called the Butterfly Garden. It's a great spot to see butterflies outside.
In July 2001, the Butterfly House became part of the Missouri Botanical Garden. This helped it grow even more.
In 2002, the "Emerson Lakeside Terrace" opened. This is a large outdoor space. Many special events happen here. The Butterfly House also joined the Butterfly Conservation Initiative (BFCI) that year. This group helps protect butterflies.
In 2003, the Butterfly House earned a special award. It became the only place focused on insects to be approved by the AZA.
In 2007, an old greenhouse was updated. This greenhouse now grows much of the food for the animals. The Butterfly House also helped a butterfly farm buy more land. This helps support sustainable butterfly farming.
What You Can See and Do
The Butterfly House has many cool areas to explore. You can learn all about butterflies and other small creatures.
Inside the Main Hallway
The main hallway has several interesting exhibits:
- Small Wonders: This exhibit teaches you about tiny animals. It focuses on invertebrates and spiders.
- Butterflies of the World: Here, you can see how many different kinds of butterflies there are.
- Butterflies Video: There's a special video for kids. It shows fun facts about butterflies.
- Aquatic Invertebrates: This area shows you small animals that live in water.
Learning and Watching Shows
The Emerson Family Theater is a great place to relax and learn. It shows a 17-minute movie called "The Butterfly Effect." This film teaches you about how butterflies behave. It also shows you their body parts. The movie plays twice every hour.
The Lopata Learning Lab is a classroom space. Many educational activities happen here. You can join workshops and learn even more about insects.
The Conservatory Garden: A Tropical Home
The Conservatory Garden is a huge indoor space. It's about 8,000 square feet (743 square meters) and is made of glass. It's like a tropical forest inside! This warm, humid place is home to many butterflies.
- It has 5 tall sections, with the highest one being 36 feet (11 meters) tall. This gives butterflies lots of room to fly.
- You can see up to 80 different kinds of butterflies here.
- There are also 150 types of tropical plants. These plants provide food and homes for the butterflies.
One of the most amazing parts is the "Miracle of Metamorphosis." Here, you can watch hundreds of chrysalides. These are the cocoons where butterflies change. You can see them transform right before your eyes!
Outdoor Areas to Explore
Overlooking a pretty pond is the Emerson Lakeside Terrace. This is an outdoor space that can be rented for events. It's a lovely spot for gatherings.
Next to the terrace is the Butterfly Garden. This garden shows you how to attract butterflies. The plants here are chosen carefully. They provide food for caterpillars and nectar for butterflies. This garden also has an outdoor classroom. It's a great place to learn about nature.
