May Natural History Museum | Colorado Springs

The May Natural History Museum, commonly referred to as the “Bug Museum”, is a fascinating, off-the-beaten-path museum located just south of Colorado Springs at 710 Rock Creek Canyon Road. This rare and eccentric destination houses one of the largest private collections of insects and arthropods in the world, showcasing thousands of exotic and brilliantly preserved specimens gathered from six continents. The museum is both a scientific treasure and a nostalgic time capsule, offering a richly detailed look into the hidden micro-world of invertebrates.

1. Historical Origins and Legacy

The museum is the result of a lifelong passion for entomology by James Frederick William May, an English-born naturalist raised in Brazil. After serving in the Second Boer War, May turned to insect collecting as a form of recovery and meditation. Between 1903 and 1956, he traveled extensively through South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and North America, collecting over 100,000 insect specimens. These included butterflies, beetles, moths, spiders, scorpions, millipedes, and more.

After James’s death in 1956, his son John May carried on his work. Initially taking the collection on the road to fairs and exhibitions, John eventually established a permanent museum in 1952 on family-owned land in Colorado, where it remains today. Despite a tempting offer from Walt Disney in the 1950s to incorporate the collection into Disneyland, John refused-insisting the May family name remain on the museum. That sense of identity, independence, and passion still defines the museum today, now operated by the third generation of the May family.

2. Collection Overview

The museum's permanent exhibition features approximately 7,000 preserved specimens from the broader 100,000-piece collection. It is considered one of the largest and most diverse private entomology collections open to the public.

Key groups include:

Beetles (Coleoptera): Ranging from thumb-sized jewel beetles to the colossal rhinoceros and goliath beetles.

Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera): Vibrant displays of tropical swallowtails, morphos, and massive Saturniidae moths.

Spiders and Scorpions (Arachnids): Some preserved in glass domes, including tarantulas, bark scorpions, and whip spiders.

Centipedes and Millipedes: From tropical giants to unusual armored species.

Stick insects, Leaf insects, Cicadas, Katydids: Demonstrating camouflage, mimicry, and sound-producing adaptations.

Each specimen is meticulously labeled with the region it was collected, some dating back more than a century. Unlike modern science museums, the displays retain a vintage style: insects are mounted in handmade wooden display cases, with original typewritten or handwritten labels, arranged in meticulous symmetry. The aesthetic evokes a cabinet-of-curiosities charm-evocative of 19th-century natural history traditions.

3. Museum Experience and Atmosphere

The museum building is relatively modest from the outside, but inside it feels like stepping into a world preserved in amber. There are narrow aisles of long glass display cases, with natural lighting and subtle overhead lamps enhancing the luminous colors of butterfly wings, beetle shells, and dragonfly eyes.

Highlights:

Herkimer the Beetle: An enormous, 16-foot-tall sculpture of a Hercules beetle greets visitors outside the museum. Built in the late 1950s, it's both a photo op and a local roadside legend.

Ultra-Rare Specimens: Some insects are extinct or no longer collected due to habitat loss or legal protections, making the display scientifically valuable and historically irreplaceable.

Unusual Displays: Some cases feature predator-prey scenes, mimicry comparisons (like leaf insects beside real leaves), or examples of insect defense mechanisms.

Interpretive materials throughout the museum explain taxonomy, anatomy, insect adaptations, ecological roles, and collection methods. Unlike larger institutions, the May Museum maintains a personal tone, blending scientific information with family anecdotes and field stories.

4. Location, Setting, and Amenities

The museum sits on a scenic section of Golden Eagle Ranch, a private conservation area that remains largely undeveloped to preserve natural wildlife and habitat. Its peaceful surroundings-open fields, forested hills, and the occasional mule deer-provide a relaxing, pastoral contrast to the intricate miniatures on display inside.

Facilities include:

RV Park & Campground: Located adjacent to the museum, this offers hookups, restrooms, showers, and a catch-and-release pond. It attracts families and road-trippers exploring the Pikes Peak region.

Gift Shop: A small but well-stocked shop sells insect-related books, toys, educational kits, decorative specimens, jewelry, and T-shirts.

Picnic Area: With shaded tables, it offers a place for visitors to enjoy a quiet lunch while surrounded by nature.

Restrooms: On-site and ADA-accessible.

5. Educational Appeal and Unique Value

Though the museum is relatively small, it is deeply educational. It offers:

Visual Taxonomy: Displays are organized by insect order and family, enabling students and amateur entomologists to observe similarities and differences among species.

Biodiversity in Action: Visitors see firsthand how insects vary by continent, climate, and niche-often with side-by-side comparisons.

Ecological Importance: Through signage and staff interpretation, the museum emphasizes the importance of insects in pollination, decomposition, pest control, and food chains.

It's especially popular with school groups, nature clubs, homeschoolers, photographers, and families with curious children. Unlike modern digital museums, it delivers a tactile, focused, and slow-paced experience, encouraging close observation and reflection.

6. Visitor Information

Operating Season:

Open daily May 1 through September 30, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

October through April: Open by appointment only (10+ guests preferred for off-season visits)

Admission:

Adults (13–60): $13

Seniors (60+): $12

Children (6–12): $10

Children under 5: Free

Contact and Access:

Located ~15 minutes south of Colorado Springs off CO-115

Free parking on-site

Museum is wheelchair accessible

Service animals welcome; pets are not permitted inside the museum

Summary

The May Natural History Museum is one of Colorado’s most distinctive hidden gems. With thousands of dazzling insect specimens, rich historical roots, and a quirky vintage atmosphere, it offers a rare deep dive into entomology that is equal parts education and spectacle. Whether you're a seasoned biologist, a curious traveler, or just someone who appreciates natural beauty in its tiniest forms, the May “Bug” Museum is an unforgettable experience-quiet, personal, and full of wonder.