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Natural History Museum to Open Butterfly Pavilion and Nature Gardens for Spring and Summer
Los Angeles Mar 08, 2021
The Butterfly Pavilion will reopen later this month. | Photo courtesy of NHMLAC
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The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County will open the Butterfly Pavilion at the and parts of its 3.5-acre nature gardens to the public for limited days and hours starting Thursday, March 18, with previews for members and invited community partners beginning Thursday. This outdoor museum experience features up to 30 species of butterflies and caterpillars in a netted enclosure filled with native plants and natural light, and provides spacious pathways to safely connect with nature in the heart of L.A.
While the Natural History Museum remains closed indoors, COVID-related safety protocols have been instituted for this outdoor museum experience. The museum will implement the same safety measures that were in place when the pavilion was open in 2020, including limiting the number of people inside the pavilion to 10 visitors, requiring advance timed-ticket reservations for the pavilion and parking online, mandatory face coverings for staff and visitors of 2 years and older, signage to enforce physical distancing and a one-way path through the gardens to the pavilion.
The Butterfly Pavilion will be open four days a week, Thursday to Sunday from 9:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. Timed tickets for the Butterfly Pavilion and advance parking reservations will be released on Monday for the following two-week period. Check the Natural History Museum’s website for updated public hours. Butterfly Pavilion tickets are $6 and include garden access before timed entry to the Pavilion. Passes for museum parking must be pre-paid (discounted to $6 and free for members) and will be sold online to avoid in-person transactions or handling of paper, and to be touchless in payment. Full details regarding ticketing and safety information may be found at NHM.ORG/butterflies.
The store in the Butterfly Pavilion will be open for all visitors. In addition, the Natural History Museum Grill will be offering a limited assortment of hot grill and grab n’ go menu items and beverages available for purchase.
The Butterfly Pavilion will be open through Sept. 6, 2021. The Spider Pavilion is scheduled for fall season dates of Sept. 19 through Nov. 28, 2021. The Natural History Museum will remain closed indoors until further notice in accordance with California COVID-19 directives for indoor museums.
