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H.H. Bennett Studio Announces May 25 Season Opening

Discover the story of the 19^th century photographer who made the Wisconsin Dells famous

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. -- There were a handful of master American photographers in the late 19^th century, and one was H.H. Bennett. Known less by his name than by his images, he single-handedly put Wisconsin Dells on the national tourism map by capturing the area’s natural beauty through his breathtaking images, use of innovative photographic techniques and marketing savvy.

Discover the life and times of Henry Hamilton Bennett, the injured civil war soldier who found his passion in photography, when H.H. Bennett Studio and Museum, a Wisconsin Historical Society site, opens for the season on May 25. This hidden gem, named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top things to do in Wisconsin Dells, immerses guests in the life and work of this renowned frontier photographer.

A journey through the museum features a series of Bennett’s breathtaking landscape photos including Leaping the Chasm, his famous photo capturing his son in a mid-air leap and made possible through his invention of the stop-action shutter (The Snapper). Through interactive exhibits, guests can even attempt “the leap” or steer a riverboat down the Wisconsin River surrounded by Bennett’s photos of towering cliffs and rock formations.

Adjoining the museum is the original 149-year-old studio, still completely intact, where Bennett once worked alongside his wife, Frankie, to provide portrait photography and process his photos.  The museum retail store offers a line of original gifts including prints of Bennett’s famous photographs, taken in the Dells area at the turn of the century.

While visiting, guests can also check out the riveting Houghton exhibition, a collection of Civil War photographs taken by Bennett’s uncle George Houghton, who traveled with the Vermont regiment between the winter of 1861 and the spring of 1863.

The studio and museum are open May 25-Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fall season is from Sept. 18- Oct. 27, open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12 for ages 13-64, $5 for 5-12, $10 for seniors 65+ and free for children under five. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission and a 10 percent discount on ticketed events.

For further information, visit hhbennettstudio.wisconsinhistory.org or click here.

About H.H. Bennett Studio

H.H. Bennett Studio is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. Considered one the preeminent landscape photographers of the 19^th century, Henry Hamilton Bennett began his photography career in 1865 and opened his first personal studio in the Wisconsin Dells in 1875. His work brought national attention to the area and his studio remains the oldest business currently operating in the Wisconsin Dells. For more information visit hhbennettstudio.org or call (608) 253-3523. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission to this site during regular operating hours.

About Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.

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