Rainforest & Butterflies Greatest Hit Features Live Bug Encounters, Trivia Night and Guided Tours That Explore Vibrant Biodiversity of the Tropics
May 7-June 6, 2026
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) is taking visitors on a journey to the tropics May 7-June 6 for the Rainforest & Butterflies Greatest Hit—the third of five exhibit celebrations in 2026 in honor of MPM’s final year open before moving to the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin. During this month-long tribute to two of MPM’s innovative and immersive exhibits, Rainforest and the Puelicher Butterfly Vivarium, visitors can go on guided tours and stop by interactive stations to learn about the amazing biodiversity found within tropical rainforests, test their trivia knowledge about everything from pollinators to primates and get up close with—and even handle—live creepy-crawlies that call this important ecosystem home.
“From the two-story tree canopy and wildlife displays in Rainforest to the delicate beauty of hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies in the Vivarium, this next Greatest Hit celebrates the sights, sounds and stories of these fan-favorite exhibits,” said MPM President & CEO Dr. Ellen Censky. “We hope visitors come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the immense interconnectedness of life on Earth and new insight into how these two exhibits were groundbreaking achievements in the Museum’s more recent history.”
When it opened in 1988 as MPM’s biology hall, Rainforest was the world’s first permanent exhibit that depicted a tropical rainforest. The walkthrough diorama is a replica of a Costa Rican rainforest and was the result of five years of research, design and construction—including a two-week expedition by MPM staff to Costa Rica.
The Puelicher Butterfly Vivarium opened in 2000 and is the only year-round tropical butterfly garden in Wisconsin. The Vivarium is home to butterfly species native to Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the Philippines.
More details about the Rainforest & Butterflies Greatest Hit special events, programs and merchandise are below and at mpm.edu/greatest-hits/rainforest-butterflies.
The Intro: Rainforest & Butterflies
Thursday, May 7, 2026, FREE Admission for Kohl’s Thank You Thursday
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
During this kickoff celebration of the Rainforest & Butterflies Greatest Hit, visitors can stop by interactive education stations and go on guided tours throughout the exhibit floors to learn about monarch butterflies, birds, the origins of chocolate and more. Families with young children (recommended for ages 3-6) can also take part in storytimes and activities. Admission to the Museum is FREE for Kohl’s Thank You Thursday.
Adult Trivia Night: Rainforest & Butterflies Edition
Thursday, May 28, 2026
7 – 9 p.m.
Participants will compete for prizes and bragging rights as the MPM Trivia Champ. The evening will consist of four rounds representing Botany, Anthropology/History, Geology and Zoology, with an overall theme of the rainforest and butterflies.
Tickets are $10 for members; $15 for general public
Cash bar available. 21+ event; IDs will be checked at the door.
The Finale: Creepy-Crawly Day
Saturday, June 6, 2026
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
During this closeout celebration of the Rainforest & Butterflies Greatest Hit, visitors will learn about the wonderful world of bugs found in the tropics and here in Wisconsin. Among the activities, visitors will have the opportunity to hold live insects and even try some edible bugs! Families with young children (recommended for ages 3-6) can also take part in storytimes and activities.
Month-long Activities
Wednesdays-Fridays, May 7-June 6, 2026 (MPM closed Tuesdays)
During the week, Museum educators will be stationed throughout the exhibits to engage visitors in hands-on learning opportunities about various biology topics.
Merchandise
This is the final year to shop official Milwaukee Public Museum merchandise. MPM fans can commemorate their favorite exhibits with the limited-edition Greatest Hits apparel, accessories and collectibles. New items are released every other month throughout 2026, including this month’s Rainforest T-shirt. All Greatest Hits-themed items are available for purchase at the MPM Marketplace.
MPM’s Greatest Hits features a lineup of five different month-long celebrations of special events and programs highlighting MPM’s most popular and impactful exhibits—or “greatest hits.” Check out the schedule: mpm.edu/greatest-hits.
In 2027, MPM will move into a new, world-class building in downtown Milwaukee and change its name to the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin. An official opening date for the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin is still being determined. Updates on this monumental project can be found at mpm.edu/future.
About the Milwaukee Public Museum
The Milwaukee Public Museum is Wisconsin’s natural history museum, welcoming over half a million visitors annually. Located in downtown Milwaukee, the Museum was chartered in 1882, opened to the public in 1884, and currently houses more than 4 million objects in its collections. MPM has three floors of exhibits that encompass life-size dioramas, walk-through villages, world cultures, dinosaurs, a rainforest, and a live butterfly garden, as well as the Daniel M. Soref Dome Theater & Planetarium. MPM is operated by Milwaukee Public Museum, Inc., a private, non-profit company, and its facilities and collections are held in trust and supported by Milwaukee County for the benefit of the public.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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