How did early photography by H. H. Bennett contribute to the growth of the Wisconsin Dells as a popular destination?
H. H. (Henry Hamilton) Bennett was an important figure in the history of photography and the Wisconsin Dells. He started his photography business in 1865, after serving in the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. By 1868, his wife, Francis (Frankie) was mostly running his portrait studio. H. H. Bennett was free to travel and photograph the Wisconsin Dells area. The landscape photos Bennett made included widely popular stereoscopic images that promoted Wisconsin as a tourist attraction. Though the photography business declined after Kodak introduced an easy-to-use hand camera in 1888 (making photography accessible to more people), Bennett’s studio remained active into the 1990s. Today, it is a museum and historical site open to the public.
Let's take a look
Questions to consider
How has the area that we know as the Wisconsin Dells changed over time? What has your community been known for in the past, and how has it changed over time?
What did Bennett capture in his photographs and why? What was not included in those photographs, and why do you think that is?
What do you notice about some of the early techniques used to make photographs? How are they similar to or different from how we capture photos today?
Meet the historians
Get to know the historians. Each historian in this episode has a card with information about that historian.
There are 3 cards to read.
Taylor L. Bailey
Public Historian
I get to look at things and moments in history and teach others about them!
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Public Historian
I find and share stories from the past that have shaped our present, and love showing people how cool history is!
Nick Hoffman
Public Historian
I get to share our fascinating history and culture with the world!
Quote from a historian
“Photography [...] changed how you see yourself, your identity, so that changed everything.”
Dave Rambow
Episode credits
Producer
David Boffa
Hosts
Taylor L. Bailey
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Nick Hoffman
Special Guest
Dave Rambow
Research and Writing
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich
Ryan Hendricks
Videography
Mike Baron
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich
Ryan Hendricks
Editing
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Translation Services
Rev
Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Jen Kobylecky
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Web Development
John Vieth
Graphic and Motion Design
Danielle Riseley
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Additional Production Support
Curt Sorensen
Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks
Director of Education
Megan Monday
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
UW–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society
Special Thanks
H. H. Bennett Studio
Funding provided by
Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout
Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family
Focus Fund for Education
Friends of PBS Wisconsin