Butterfly Pavilion is Turning 30!

In 1995, Butterfly Pavilion opened its doors for the first time. What followed was three decades of groundbreaking research, conservation, and education aimed at protecting the most essential creatures on Earth: invertebrates. Despite making up 97% of all known animal species on earth and forming the foundation of nature’s ecosystems, invertebrates are being faced with habitat loss, climate change, and harmful pesticides that threaten their numbers. At Butterfly Pavilion, our mission has always been to find tangible solutions to this ‘invertebrate apocalypse.”  The Rocky Mountain Butterfly Consortium was established in 1990, and it only took a few short years to open the nation’s first freestanding butterfly house. With Water’s Edge opening in 1998, a 13,000 square ft. expansion in 2004, and the Dee Lidvall Discovery Garden in 2007, Butterfly Pavilion has evolved into the world’s first Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited nonprofit, standalone invertebrate zoo with an inspiring legacy. 

Throughout the years, Butterfly Pavilion has participated in a large scope of collaborations and initiatives, ranging from rearing fireflies in Colorado to bee fencing for mitigating human-elephant conflict in Tanzania. In 2018, we were at the forefront of a national coral rescue project in the Florida Reef Tract. Our collaborations include improving tarantula survival with the Colorado Department of Transportation and we even had a one-time consultation for NASA’s “Butterflies and Spiders in Space” experiment, not to mention the popular partnership with Colorado State University aimed at capitalizing on resources for aspiring scientists. Community engagement is a tenet of Butterfly Pavilion’s philosophy; over 60,000 students annually immerse themselves in field trips, camps, and virtual learning opportunities that aim to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists. But for those who already have careers and adult lives, Butterfly Pavilion has ways to get involved including our adult program series with rainforest yoga, workshops, lectures and after-hour events. Community science offers additional opportunities to help Butterfly Pavilion scientists collect important data and restore open spaces in Colorado.    Butterfly monitoring with the Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network, one of our community science programs, is an accessible and interesting way to get involved in invertebrate conservation by observing, monitoring, and identifying butterfly populations in Colorado. Our Urban Prairies Project is another program that provides an easy way for community members to participate in hands-on restoration, data collection, and community outreach. With interactive exhibits, programs, and events, Butterfly Pavilion maintains its commitment to research, conservation, and education within and beyond local communities. 

Butterfly Pavilion’s wonderful community has long supported our mission with donations, volunteer time, and participation in the wide variety of events we design to explore the inner worlds of our most fascinating creatures. However, our mission does not stop here: we are just getting started. With new exhibits like Legacies: Invertebrates of Mexico opening on March 15, 2025 and a global conservation effort in partnership with the government of Mexico thanks to an AZA grant, Butterfly Pavilion is looking to the next years’ potential for expansion and conservational development. Butterfly Ball Colorado, Spiders Around the World, Monarch Magic, and other recurring annual events are staples in our mission and will continue to be a key part of community outreach. Honoring the importance of these creatures and their cultural significance, beyond their contributions to the ecosystems they inhabit, can take shape in many different avenues, and here at Butterfly Pavilion we remain committed to pioneering invertebrate, research, and education.