Come February 2, 2026, a stroll through the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven will cost non-members a little extra. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum announced January 6 that it will begin charging a $5 add-on fee for the Butterfly Haven, tacked onto regular museum admission for visitors who are not members. Members will continue to enjoy free access. Museum officials say the additional revenue will support care for the living collection and help fund the museum’s conservation and education programs.
New fee and the museum's rationale
According to WTTW, beginning February 2, non-members will be charged a $5 add-on on top of general admission, while access remains free for museum members. In a statement cited by the outlet, museum officials said the fee is “necessary to help support the care” of the butterflies and to underwrite the conservation, education, and science programming the museum runs.
Inside the Butterfly Haven
The Judy Istock Butterfly Haven is a tropical, 2,700-square-foot greenhouse that WTTW describes as “home to more than 40 species” of butterflies, along with birds, tropical trees, and flowers. The exhibit also includes a daily “First Flight” release of newly emerged butterflies and moths as part of the museum’s educational programming.
Admission, membership, and whether the math changes
Per the Nature Museum Plan Your Visit page, general admission currently includes access to the Butterfly Haven and is tiered by age, with in-state pricing and designated free days for Illinois residents. The museum’s Nature Museum membership page lists annual options that begin at $52 for individuals and shows a Family membership priced at $164, with memberships including free year-round general admission. Using those posted rates, a Family membership would roughly pay for itself after about three to four visits for a typical household, depending on ticket types and whether guests qualify for in-state pricing.
