Not many outside of Wisconsin have heard of Wisconsin Dells (WD). It's actually the name of their town here; a town not unlike Anaheim or Williamsburg or Orlando.
An attraction is created like Disneyland or Williamsburg Colonial or Walt Disney World and a whole industry of T-shirt shops, hotel/motels, restaurants, and funky attractions grows up around it.
Here in the Dells a man named H.H. Bennett in the 1870's came and photographed the unique landscape. He created 3D stereoscope pictures, sold them, and enticed people to come and visit the area.
His photography studio is here in town and has been in the same location in the same brick building for over 140 years, owned by his family until a 15 years ago when they gave it to the Wisconsin Historical Society.
It's a very nice museum with some hands-on displays.
His studio and all of the tools he used is still here.
His large format camera is even setup for you to take a portrait of your loved one.
Unfortunately, as with all good things, this too had to end. In the late 1800's the Brownie camera was introduced and consumers started taking their own pictures.
To survive he resorted to selling souvenirs of the Wisconsin Dells but still made his stereoscope pictures available as well.
Thanks to the Bennetts' everywhere, there are hundreds of people employed in cities selling boat rides, driving duck boats, giving amusement park rides, hawking t-shirts, and introducing people to their history through museums.
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