The Original Mackinac IslandButterfly House& Insect World
Tickets ↗
05 / The Original

A place built for curiosity.

The business traces its beginning to Doug Beardsley in 1991 and describes itself as Michigan’s first live butterfly exhibit. Its story continues in the garden and the questions visitors bring.

Read the official history
Caring for plants inside the garden.
Caring for plants inside the garden.
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Visitors inside the garden.

Visitors inside the garden.
Visitors inside the garden.

The beginning: 1991

According to the business’s history, Doug Beardsley founded the Butterfly House in 1991. Its original live-butterfly exhibit remains central to the story the operator tells.

Read the business’s own account ↗
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Staff and young visitors during an educational moment.

Staff and young visitors during an educational moment.
Staff and young visitors during an educational moment.

People make the learning personal

The official site describes staff with science and education backgrounds. These photographs show real moments of care and conversation; no biography is inferred from an image.

Explore the learning story ↗
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The Insect World exhibit setting.

The Insect World exhibit setting.
The Insect World exhibit setting.

Two places to keep looking

The garden is joined by Insect World. Plan to explore the butterfly house and read about its insects, amphibians and reptiles before deciding what questions to bring.

Discover Insect World ↗
6750 McGulpin Street · Mackinac Island

Make room for
a closer look.

Check the current season, then buy tickets directly from the Butterfly House.

A yellow-and-black butterfly among flowers

Open full-size photograph ↗