Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center

Butterflies 101 | Butterfly and Plant Identification Guide

Flights of fancy await you in the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, where over 1,000 tropical butterflies, representing more than 50 different species, flutter freely through the air. Tropical plants provide an oasis for these magnificent creatures in one of North America's largest, glass-enclosed tropical butterfly conservatories. Watch for yourself as every week, newly arrived butterflies emerge from their chrysalids, dry their wings, and begin their very first wing-beats.

Every visit to the Day Butterfly Center is a new experience because this is a living, growing environment. The plant population will grow and change dramatically over time. And the butterfly population will fluctuate in diversity and density, constantly being influenced by:

Amount of sunshine available
Season of the year
Recently received butterfly shipments
Temperature fluctuations
Stability of the ecosystem

Be sure to visit frequently and experience the changes in this living environment.

The Day Butterfly Center's lobby includes a variety of artwork generously donated by Deen Day Sanders, who also gave the lead gift used to build the Center in honor of her late husband and founder of Days Inn of America, Inc., Cecil B. Day.

The center was awarded the distinguished Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification award in 2004. This distinction indicates that the building was designed, constructed, and is maintained in ways that are environmentally healthy and sound.

A gift shop in the lobby is a necessary stop for a souvenir of your visit. You'll find everything from toys to charming home decor items – and it's all related to butterflies! You can also purchase some of the products online.