Guests can pose for a tintype portrait and explore the life and legacy of this 19^th-century photographer 

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. – H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum will open for the season on May 27. 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 renowned photographer Henry Hamilton Bennett, whose legacy is intertwined with the city’s rise to national tourism prominence during the golden age of travel.

The studio and museum experience introduces guests to the world of 19^th-century photography and highlights Bennett’s artistic talents and photographic innovations. Guests can tour Bennett’s original 1875 studio and explore the adjoining museum, which features his progressive landscape photos including the famous Leaping the Chasm. Interactive exhibits allow guests to attempt “the leap” or steer a riverboat down the Wisconsin River surrounded by Bennett’s photos of towering cliffs and rock formations.

Guests can leave with an heirloom-quality keepsake by posing for an old-fashioned tintype photograph in Bennett’s original studio. Using a 19^th-century wet plate process results in a dreamy, one-of-a-kind image made on a thin metal plate and reminiscent of another time. This special experience is available from June 2 - Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Sessions are available by appointment only from November - April. Prices start at $90 for one 4x6 photographic image.

H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum is open daily from May 27 - Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fall season is from Sept. 18 - Oct.29, open Thursday though Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and teens, $10 for seniors, $5 for children, and free for children under 5. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission and a 10% discount on ticketed events.

For further information, visit hhbennettstudio.wisconsinhistory.org.

Upcoming Event:

• “Among the Wonders of the Dells” Museum of Wisconsin Art Panel Discussion - June 10, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Learn about the dynamic history of the place known today as the Wisconsin Dells at this panel discussion featuring artists and photographers Kevin Miyazaki and Mark Brautigam. This event is sponsored in part by the Dells Masonic Lodge. The cost is $10 per person and the event will be held at the 1868 Town Hall (Masonic Temple, Dells Lodge 124), 815 Oak St., Wisconsin Dells, WI.

Click here to view the H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum photo gallery.

About H.H. Bennett Studio & Museum
Henry Hamilton Bennett, considered one of the preeminent landscape photographers of the 19th century, built his first personal studio in the Wisconsin Dells in 1875, attracting global attention and new visitors to the region. The studio remains the oldest business currently operating in the Wisconsin Dells and is one of the oldest working photography studios in the nation.

About the 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.