Carnegie Museum of Natural History
January 21—April 23
Various times
If you’ve been missing the fascinating and friendly bugs of spring and summer—or you have a budding entomologist in your clan—head to Carnegie Museum of Natural History for a breathtaking burst of butterflies.
Opening on January 21st in the museum’s R.P. Simmons Family Gallery, Amazing Butterflies invites kids of all ages to explore the wondrous world of nature’s remarkable Lepidoptera.
Combining the kinetic fun of a playground with hands-on, interactive learning, the experiential exhibit is opening this weekend just in time to brighten winter’s coldest months.
Did you know that butterfly fossils date way back to the Palaeocene epoch 56 million years ago? Explore all things butterflies and caterpillars—including their unique natural habitats, life cycles, large, brightly colored wings, and fluttering flight patterns—all while having fun participating in engaging activities.
Discover a surprise around each corner as you shrink down to the small size of a butterfly, take flight on an exhilarating adventure, and attempt to navigate your way through an engaging maze-like exhibition.
Kids and even their parents can climb into giant pupa pods, crawl like a caterpillar through a monarch tunnel, soar down a butterfly zip line, and fend off a hairy plant attack as blades of grass tower above.
Amazing Butterflies is included with museum admission.
The opening celebration for Amazing Butterflies on January 21st will also feature cool butterfly-themed activities offered in conjunction the CMNH’s ongoing Super Science Series.
Flutter over to the hands-on science stations, watch a butterfly migration video in the Earth Theater, and see live butterflies being cultivated from caterpillars in Discovery Basecamp. You can even assemble your own butterfly glider, and test it out in the museum’s special “Butterfly Gliding Range” located in Botany Hall.
Looking for more events? Check out our Top 10 Pittsburgh events not to miss in January, Top 9 family events in Pittsburgh this January and our 17 can’t-miss Pittsburgh concerts in 2017 feature stories.
