Portland Insectarium is a zoo and museum dedicated to insects, arachnids, and other arthropods. See and touch live and preserved bugs, engage in interactive activities, explore a curated selection of toys, games, and books. Connect with experts and fellow enthusiasts and join a vibrant community of bug lovers. We are celebrating education, nurturing creativity, and sparking curiosity!
The Portland Insectarium was conceived in 2016 by Jessica Szabo and Molly Radany while taking a museum curation class at Portland State University. We lamented that Portland did not have a natural history museum, or even an insectarium! We started doing public events in 2018 as a mobile/pop up insect zoo, museum, and educational experience. We hosted tea parties with live bugs, drink & draws at an art gallery, and visited classrooms and libraries all around Portland. Like so many other small businesses, COVID hit us hard. We were unable to do events and so went on indefinite hold. After a 2 year break, in December 2021 we opened our first physical location next door to ExperimentPDX in the Buckman neighborhood. In September of 2022 we relocated to Sellwood and joined Milieu Collective until the building was sold in March 2024. We now have our own space at 5429 N Moore Ave! |
Contact Us
We do not have a business phone, please email [email protected]. Please have patience as it may take several days to a week for a response. Check out our FAQ to see if your question is answered there. Our friends!
Szabocraft: www.szabocraft.com - website, logo, and other graphic design. Jesse Greene: www.shapesinnature.com - artist and former volunteer with the Insectarium. Pets on Broadway: www.petsonbroadway.com - hosts events and provides terrarium supplies for our bugs. Paxton Gate: www.paxtongate.com/paxton/portland - hosts events. Insect Safari: www.theinsectsafari.com - Don Ehlen provided our pinned insect collection and joins us for some events. Nucleus Gallery: www.nucleusportland.com - formerly hosted monthly Drink & Draw and other events. Lupa: www.curiousgallerypdx.com - supporter since the beginning, drawing event collaborator - www.stilldeath.com |
Donate via Paypal, Venmo, or Cash App. Please note that it is a donation in the comments of the transaction, or use a random emoji. Thank you! The Portland Insectarium is not a nonprofit. Donations are not tax deductible. Any income or donations are presently going towards:
Your support is greatly appreciated! Thank you! Jessica Szabo (owner/educator, she/they) Jessica is an arachnologist, biological illustrator, and science educator. They studied spider morphology, taxonomy, and ecology at Portland State University. Katie Armstrong (assistant/educator, they/he) |
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