Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium

A brand new Butterfly House and Insectarium opened in Missoula in Fall 2023!

The idea for the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium (MBHI) started in 2005. For over 7 years, Jennifer Marangelo (Executive Director and founder) worked with Dr. Douglas Emlen, running his research lab at the University of Montana on the often unappreciated but essential dung beetle. With a growing love for insects and insect education, Jen transitioned from staff to student and graduated in 2008 with a master’s degree in Museum Exhibit Design and Curriculum Development. MBHI was launched in February 2009 with a long-term goal of building a tropical butterfly house and insect museum in Missoula, MT. In June of 2015, MBHI opened the Missoula Insectarium, housing field trips, exhibits and education programs that stimulated learning and curiosity through hands-on, interactive experiences with amazing animals – introducing visitors to the incredible world of insects and leaving them with a deep and lasting impression and a desire to learn more.

To reach their long-term goal, in 2019, MBHI began a capital campaign to open a new, larger facility featuring a tropical butterfly house, set to open in 2023.

• MBHI features a 2300 sq. ft exhibit space featuring live arthropods, a 2500 sq ft immersion greenhouse filled with tropical plants and free-flying butterflies, and a 900 sq ft classroom.

• Butterfly House Website

MBHI is a new site partner, and some details continue to evolve. But for now, artists can expect:

-An onsite workspace, possibly a public-facing workspace or a workspace in the office.

- Access to approximately ten staff members with naturalists, scientists, and educators backgrounds.

- Access to various live arthropods on exhibit and in a lab, as well as pinned collections.

- Opportunity to participate in educational programming as desired.

-wifi access

-Access to MBHI during regular business hours.

-The artist will need to be comfortable in a humid and warm environment and must follow USDA protocol if working with live animals.

Artists coming from out of town will be provided accommodations in Missoula. Each year our housing changes based on the needs of incoming residents and changing housing options in Missoula. Generally, residents are housed together in a centrally located furnished home or apartment with a private bedroom in Missoula. Occasionally residents are housed with a vetted host family. Applicants will have the opportunity to share their housing needs in the Artist-in-Residence application.

In addition to an artist presentation, the artist will have an opportunity to engage with the public during open hours, Tuesday - Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm.

The Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium is located on the Missoula County Fairgrounds, two miles south of downtown. There is parking nearby, and the building is accessible by public transportation.