Museum of Riverside’s Heritage House Explores the Life and Work of Charles Montagu Dammers

Published: 3/9/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 9, 2026

Contact:

Ian M. Wright

Curator of Natural History

[email protected]

(951) 826-5123

The Museum of Riverside's Heritage House Explores the Life and Work of Charles Montagu Dammers in A Victorian Heritage: Riverside's Butterfly Man

Riverside, CA - The Museum of Riverside's Heritage House will begin the spring season with the opening of the exhibition A Victorian Heritage: Riverside's Butterfly Man. The latest in the Museum of Riverside's exhibition series explores the life and work of one of our city's most influential naturalists.

The exhibition will be on view during regular Heritage House tours Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Mar. 13^th through June 28^th. It's recommended to book your tour in advance on Eventbrite. For more information and to keep up to date on all Museum of Riverside activities, visit museumofriverside.org.

This spring exhibition explores the environmental conservation movement at the turn of the nineteenth century, a time when women's fashion embraced trends like wearing dead birds on hats. Victorian naturalists were born out of an appreciation for nature and the growing concern about overharvesting natural resources.

Among a generation of naturalists inspired by this movement was Charles Montagu Dammers. A lieutenant in the Royal Navy turned gold prospector, Dammers arrived in Riverside in the 1920s where he turned his green thumb toward reviving an orange orchard. Dammers was deeply influenced by the Victorian naturalists of his youth. He developed his own passion for natural history upon his arrival in Riverside, rearing and studying butterflies and other insects in his spare time. He created stunning watercolor illustrations of these insects and published notes on their biology, earning him the nickname "Riverside's Butterfly Man."

Throughout Heritage House, small bell jars spread throughout, signify important objects on exhibit relating to Dammers' story. Visitors can see what the life of an early scientist was like through objects such as magnifying glasses, insect-collecting equipment, and books on natural history. Also included is a reimagined example of what Dammers' workspace may have looked like, including rearing cages, watercolors, and a vintage typewriter!

A series of engaging events accompany the exhibition this spring, including nature journaling, live insect programs, and butterfly walks with the Curator of Natural History.