Riverside's Butterfly Man Comes to Life at Heritage House This Spring

Heritage House is hosting a new exhibition this spring centered on Charles Montagu Dammers, a Royal Navy lieutenant-turned-gold prospector-turned-orange grower who became known as "Riverside's Butterfly Man."

The exhibition, "A Victorian Heritage: Riverside's Butterfly Man," runs Fridays through Sundays from March 13 through June 28. Ian Wright, curator of natural history, first encountered Dammers through a newsletter published by Victoria Avenue Forever, a local nonprofit that helped dedicate a memorial plaque to him on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Mary Street, where he once lived.

"Dammers was among the first researchers to begin describing more about the actual behaviors, reproduction, and ecology of butterflies rather than simply collecting and displaying their attractive adult forms," Wright said. "I hope visitors take away an understanding of his zeal for observing nature in all its aspects along with the inspiration to do the same with their own natural history observations through databases like iNaturalist."

The exhibition also touches on a fashion trend of the era that Wright describes as jarring: wearing dead birds on hats. The toll on bird populations was first documented by two women who went on to found the Audubon Society. Dammers' work with butterflies reflects that same shift in thinking, moving public attention from butterflies as decorative objects to living subjects worth understanding and protecting.

Display cases inside Heritage House hold artifacts from "A Victorian Heritage: Riverside's Butterfly Man," including an open book showing black-and-white illustrations of swallowtail butterfly species alongside a magnifying glass and a bell jar encasing a pinned specimen; a glass-topped table displaying a vintage butterfly net and colorful butterfly prints with an exhibition placard; and a recreated naturalist's workspace featuring a period typewriter, loose field notes and watercolor illustrations of caterpillars attributed to Charles Montagu Dammers. (Courtesy of Museum of Riverside)

"His studies helped form the foundational science for conservationists today to assess populations and protect those that are under threat," Wright said. "To protect an organism you need to understand it and only by the public knowing about the natural world and the threats to it will they be invested in its protection."

One centerpiece of the exhibition is a recreated workspace in the upstairs library of Heritage House, where visitors can see a rearing cage with artificial plants and caterpillars, a pinned insect collection, a period typewriter and reproductions of Dammers' notes and watercolors.

"This whole section really links the Victorian obsession with decorative nature displays with Dammers' obsession with butterfly natural history," Wright said.

Accompanying events this spring include nature journaling workshops, live insect programs and butterfly walks led by Wright.

Tours are free and available Fridays through Sundays. Walk-ins are welcome, but advance booking through Eventbrite is recommended. Visitors should wear flat shoes, as high heels are discouraged, and leave food, drinks and glittered clothing at home. Tours last 30 to 45 minutes.

More information: Tours of "A Victorian Heritage: Riverside's Butterfly Man" at Heritage House are free and available Fridays through Sundays, March 13 through June 28. Book a time slot at eventbrite.com. A gift shop on site carries insect-themed books, jewelry and educational toys. Visit museumofriverside.org for more on Museum of Riverside programming.