Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin: H.H. Bennett Studio History Centre - Dells Origins... and a Troll

This latest addition to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin's museums (by way of a 1998 donation from the Reese family, descendants by marriage of "the Man with the Camera," H.H. Bennett, who first made the Dells famous) may not exactly be drawing in the tourists, from what I understand.

They've had to offer free admission on Monday afternoons (ordinarily, an admission fee is charged, waived for SHSW members on presentation of their membership card); otherwise, people seem to just pass it by and ignore it essentially while walking Downtown Dells.

Never mind that it WAS H.H. Bennett that made Wisconsin Dells first known to the world; seems that, from what I read, "people are more interested in the waterslides and go-karts" than in the scenery as made the Dells known in the first place, which Bennett's photography did.

Perhaps one of the hottest free attractions in downtown Dells is an audio-animatronic supersized troll doll displayed prominently in the Bailey's Landing gift shop, known to "snore" away the time, only to break into choruses of "As Time Goes By" and "What A Wonderful World," as well as snideish remarks, every few minutes or so. [Larry Ellis Reed, 08/11/2001]