Butterflies Alive! An immersive look into the lives of butterflies

Upon arrival at the Sprague Butterfly Pavilion, a metal gate is opened in coordination with the closure of a gate on the other side of the entry way. There is a mirror in the corridor where exiting guests can check that no butterflies have found refuge in their clothing, bags or potentially even hair. 

The Butterflies Alive! exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History provides an immersive look into the ecosystem and lives of butterflies. 

Through the entryway, signs and guideposts explain the different stages of a butterfly’s life, as well as their traits and adaptations. Natural light floods into the garden from the netted ceiling; while the pavilion is an enclosed space, it remains full of life.

The exhibit, open through Sept. 7, features nearly 1,000 butterflies.

Almost two dozen species of tropical butterflies from Costa Rica were fluttering about the garden on a recent evening.

While some were gathered in clusters drinking the thin layer of citrus sweetened water that covered several plates throughout the exhibit, others were hanging from leaves in trees and visiting the various flower species growing in the pavilion.

A few of the colorful winged insects flew around people’s heads, bumping into hair and landing on their shoulders. They’re rather friendly—as one guest found out when a butterfly found a comfortable spot resting on his chin.

While there isn’t yet a way for humans to fully step into the shoes of a butterfly, the Butterflies Alive! exhibit is about as close as it gets.