H. H. Bennett Studio
www.wisconsinhistory.org/hhbennett/
The historic 1875 studio in which H. H. Bennett established his legacy offers a window to the life and times of the pioneering photographer. Visitors enter the studio — now restored to its appearance in 1908, the year of Bennett's death — through the workroom where he manufactured the stereo cards he sold by the thousands. From there, surrounded by original furnishings, tools and hand-operated equipment that kept the manufacturing operation going year-round, visitors can view the darkroom where Bennett developed his glass-plate negatives and made his finished prints. A few steps away is the "operating room," illuminated by a skylight that provided a source of natural light for Bennett's portrait photography. And while he is most well known for his breathtaking landscape photographs, Bennett produced many fine portraits in this room, including several of the native Ho-Chunk people with whom he established both personal and professional relationships. Beyond the portrait room stands the sales room, which Bennett stocked with mounted photographs, stereo cards, and a variety of souvenirs and Native American crafts for sale to tourists who — thanks in large part to Bennett — began to discover the beauty of the Wisconsin Dells in growing numbers.
Address
215 Broadway
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Contact Information
Voice: 608-253-3523
Email: hhbennett@wisconsinhistory.org
Toll Free: 866-944-7483
All InterestsDirections from Nearest Town/IntersectionFrom I-90/94, take exit 87 and proceed eastbound on Highway 23 directly to the H.H. Bennett Studio.
Disabled AccessHours of OperationOpen daily 10am-5pm May 1 through Oct. 28, 2007. Open weekends only, 10am-4pm November 2007 through April 2008 (closed in January). Open daily 10am-5pm May 1 through Oct. 31, 2008 (open until early evenings July through mid-August). Group and school tours available year round by reservation.
History & HeritageTypeNative American Heritage / Wisconsin History
Museums & GalleriesTypePhotography