HOUSTON -- Thousands of people gathered and waited in longs lines Friday to take a peek and whiff of Lois, the corpse flower at the Museum of Natural Science.
Fans found out the hard way that the wait for tickets was just the first wait to encounter. There was also a line to get into the museum.
The museum offered a shorter line to those willing to buy a membership.
“We paid about $150 for membership and tickets,” one visitor said.
There was a sense of urgency in the crowd as the clock ticked for the pungent aroma of the blooming corpse flower. For some it was an once-in-a-lifetime chance to breathe in a little piece of history.
“The second one in Texas, it's amazing, and I want to be a part of it,” a visitor said.
Every 10 minutes workers ushered a new group of 75 Lois lovers inside the Butterfly Exhibit.
Museum workers said your chances are running out because Lois’ odor peaked Friday morning around 7, so she would probably stop stinking by nightfall.
Her bloom was expected to last until Sunday and after that, she'll go dormant for three to six months.
Then, the museum will replant her in hopes of getting her to bloom again one day.
