Travel Destination

Audubon Aquarium And Insectarium Reimagined

Amassive transformation has begun along the Mississippi River where the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas sits, and once its completed, animal adventures await. The Audubon Nature Institute is merging the Aquarium with the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium under one roof. “Bringing the aquarium and insectarium together is probably the most exciting project that we’ve had at Audubon in a long, long time,” Audubon Nature Institute Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer Kyle Burks said.

“We need new attractions to bring people in,” added Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman. “Moving the butterfly insectarium into the aquarium building, one of the top attractions in our city, one of the major leaders in conservation in teaching our young kids the importance of the environment and protecting the Earth.”

The revamp incorporates state-of-the art technology and exhibits including new and reimagined galleries.

• Butterfly Pavilion - Fluttering wings and dancing colors surround visitors in this majestic butterfly garden. A dazzling array of butterfly species fly unrestricted among the live butterfly host plants.

• WOW! – A constantly changing interactive experience gives guests an up close and personal experience of species migration like butterflies.

• Pollinators – Focuses on the relationship between flowering plants and insects.

• Healthy Soil – Insects form a critical link in the food chain. Visitors will learn how their feeding activities play important roles in waste decomposition, nutrient recycling, pollination and natural pest control.

• Bug Bayou – In New Orleans and coastal Louisiana, there are marvelous insects and spiders, many of which visitors may never have seen before. This immersion environment explores the complex web of life that exists in the swamps of Louisiana. Fan-favorite Insectarium galleries making the move include Field Camp, Metamorphosis, Diversity (explores physical adaptations that have made insects successful), and Bug Appétit, where the menu is bugs. Eating insects isn’t odd — it’s done around the world — and in New Orleans, it’s bound to be tasty.