RAISING NATIVE BUTTERFLIES
In 1899, a 16-year-old Native American girl named Neosho Parthenia Brown received a 160-acre land allotment from the United States government. However, this land was no gift. As the daughter of a Muscogee (Creek) woman and a Euchee man, the allotment was compensation to her people for the millions of acres of land that had been taken away from them, first by the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and later by the Dawes Act of 1887. Her father, Samuel W. Brown, had been born on the Trail of Tears and later became the chief of his people, the Euchee Tribe. The 160-acre parcel that he selected for his daughter’s allotment reminded him of his tribe's ancestral homelands in Alabama -- rich soil, towering pecan trees and stunning natural beauty. Although the great nation of his ancestors was gone, their spirit could live on in this quiet corner of Oklahoma.
ABOUT THE FARM
The spirit of Neosho and her people is still alive at the Euchee Butterfly Farm, located on her original 160-acre allotment In Tulsa County on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation. She tenderly cared for her land for over 72 years, using it to help others in need, produce life-giving food, and protect the hundreds of species of native plants and animals that made the land their home, too. Today, her great-granddaughter and other descendants are honoring her memory by using this land to create sustainable economic development for Native people through butterfly farming, and by using the land to educate about the need for habitat conservation and cultural preservation.
TAKE A TOUR TO SEE THOUSANDS OF LIVE BUTTERFLIES AND GET A SNEAK PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES AT OKLAHOMA'S ONLY REAL WORKING BUTTERFLY FARM
Euchee Butterfly Farm is the only site in Oklahoma licensed to fly the stunning Blue Morpho Butterfly and other tropical butterflies from Costa Rica. With a wingspan of over 4 inches and electric blue coloring, the Blue Morpho is widely considered to be the world's most beautiful butterfly.
Each guided tour includes:
A visit to our outdoor walk-through butterfly aviary with native plant landscaping and over 1000 live butterflies (open May through October).
A visit to our indoor walk-through tropical butterfly aviary with vaulted 18-foot ceiling, palm trees and over 500 live butterflies (open year-round).
The opportunity to see and learn about our 12-acre magnificent native prairie -- the last true original prairie remnant in Tulsa County.
Behind-the-scenes tour to discover how the butterflies are raised at the farm and find out what it takes to become a butterfly farmer.
Information on how we raise over 20,000 milkweed and native plants for monarch habitat restoration on tribal land, including a stop by our native plant seed bank -- the only one its kind in our region.
Access to our pollinator planting demonstration gardens.
CONSERVATION – CULTURAL PRESERVATION - SUSTAINABILITY
These are the three core values that the Euchee Butterfly Farm was founded on. We’re honored to have you join us as we uphold Neosho's legacy and we are truly grateful for your support of our mission.
All butterflies at the Euchee Butterfly Farm are raised by the Natives Raising Natives Project, which provides tribal members from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation with the necessary training, supplies and technical support to become butterfly farmers.
The Natives Raising Natives Project has three goals:
Create sustainable economic development for Native people in rural Oklahoma
Provide a hands-on science learning opportunity for Native youth
Raise awareness of the need to conserve ecosystems of native butterflies and other threatened pollinators.
BOOK AN EVENT
Our amenities include:
2400 square feet of indoor event space with tables and chairs.
Outdoor event space to accommodate up to 300 people.
Outdoor walk-through butterfly aviary with native plant landscaping and over 1000 live butterflies (open May through October).
Indoor walk-through tropical butterfly aviary with vaulted 18-foot ceiling, palm trees and over 500 live butterflies (open year-round).
Rare 12-acre magnificent native prairie -- the last true original prairie remnant in Tulsa County.
1.6 miles of mowed walking trails.
Beautiful Amish-crafted 18 foot wooden event gazebo with pagoda roof.
Huge handcrafted stone fire ring made from sandstone harvested onsite.
40' x 80' outdoor event tent with detachable clear sidewalls.
Event rate packages starting at just $599!
