HISTORY

Wisconsin Dells first gained prominence as a scenic vacation destination in the mid-1850s, when spectacular natural beauty, colorful local entrepreneurs and tour boats combined to set a new standard for sightseeing. This is their story.

1800 – 1890s

THE FIRST LARGE “BOATS” TO TRAVEL THE WISCONSIN RIVER IN THE DELLS AREA WERE GIANT LUMBER RAFTS. THE MEN WHO PILOTED THEM USED THE RIVER TO TRANSPORT TIMBER FROM NORTHERN FORESTS TO SOUTHERN MARKETS. HERE, RAFTS PASS THROUGH “THE NARROWS.”

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1849 – 1853

WHEN THE RAILROAD MADE LUMBER RAFTS OBSOLETE, RAFT PILOT LEROY GATES REINVENTED HIMSELF AS A TOUR GUIDE FOR VISITORS WHO CAME TO SEE WISCONSIN DELLS’ NATURAL SCENERY. AN ENGRAVED CLIFF IN THE UPPER DELLS STILL BEARS TESTAMENT TO GATES TODAY.

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1860 – 1907

H.H. BENNETT, “THE MAN WITH THE CAMERA,” FELL IN LOVE WITH THE DELLS PHOTOGRAPHED ALL ASPECTS OF THE AREA’S CULTURE, COMMERCE AND SCENERY. HIS STEREOSCOPE IMAGES SPREAD ACROSS THE NATION AND MADE WISCONSIN DELLS THE POPULAR DESTINATION IT IS TODAY.

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1849 – 1872

LEROY GATES’ RIVER GUIDE SERVICE CONSISTED OF LOADING GUESTS INTO A ROWBOAT AND MAKING THEM ROW WHILE HE POINTED OUT SIGHTS AND PROVIDED COMMENTARY! THIS “FIRST DELLS BOAT TOUR” SPAWNED MANY IMITATORS, AND SOON THE RIVER WAS CROWDED WITH BOATS.

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1875

H.H. BENNETT EXPLORED WITCHES GULCH, CUTTING HIS WAY THROUGH THE ICE-AND-DEBRIS-CHOKED PASSAGE IN THE WINTER. IMPROVEMENTS TO ALLOW BETTER ACCESS FOLLOWED, AND SHORELANDINGS HAVE BEEN A HALLMARK OF DELLS BOAT TOURS^® EVER SINCE.

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1886

H.H. BENNETT INVENTED AN INSTANT SHUTTER CAMERA THAT ALLOWED HIM TO CAPTURE IMAGES IN MOTION. HE PROVED THE CONCEPT BY HAVING HIS SON ASHLEY LEAP TO THE TOP OF STAND ROCK, SATISFYING SKEPTICS AND EARNING HIM A LASTING LEGACY AS THE DELLS’ GREATEST PROMOTER.

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1873 – 1894

TO MEET THE DEMAND OF GROWING NUMBERS OF DELLS TOURISTS, THE STEAMBOAT MODOCAWANDA BEGAN SERVICE IN JUNE, 1873, FOLLOWED TWO WEEKS LATER BY THE DELL QUEEN. THE STEAMBOATS PROVED POPULAR AND CATERED TO AREA VISITORS FOR THREE DECADES.

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1894 – early 1900s

SMALLER LAUNCHES THAT ALLOWED BETTER VIEWS AND ACCESS TO NARROW CHANNELS OFF THE MAIN RIVER WERE INTRODUCED IN THE 1890S. THIS INCLUDED THE FIRST GASOLINE-POWERED ENGINE IN 1894, FOLLWED BY THE FIRST PROPELLOR-DRIVEN BOAT IN 1902.

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1920

GEORGE CRANDALL LOVED THE DELLS AND WANTED TO PRESERVE ITS BEAUTY. HE PURCHASED 1,200 ACRES OF LAND, RESTORING AND REFORESTING, THEN DONATING IT WITH THE STIPULATION THAT IT COULD NEVER BE DEVELOPED, THUS PRESERVING IT FOR ALL TIME.

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1946

FOLLOWING WORLD WAR II, THE FIRST STEEL-HULLED TOUR BOATS MADE THEIR DEBUT, INCLUDING A DOUBLE-DECKER DESIGN THAT WOULD BECOME STANDARD FOR DELLS BOAT TOURS^® BY THE EARLY 1950S.

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TODAY

DELLS BOAT TOURS^® MAINTAINS A FLEET OF 15 MODERN BOATS, INCLUDING DOUBLE-DECKERS, A TRIPLE-DECK PARTY BOAT, AND THE CLIPPER WINNEBAGO, THE FLAGSHIP OF OUR FLEET.

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