Wisconsin Dells History Did Not Begin When We Invented The Indoor
Waterpark . . . But It Did Begin With Water

Not familiar with the history of Wisconsin Dells? Honestly, we didn't expect you to be. After all, most people think the history of Wisconsin Dells began with the christening of the world's first indoor waterpark at the Polynesian Resort Hotel & Suites in 1989. Local lore has it that Polynesian owner Stan Anderson and some of his fellow business owners were at an amusement park convention in the south when they conceived of the idea to put a roof over a water attraction they had seen at the convention. It featured squirts, geysers, slides and gizmos, and they figured it would be a big hit with the little ones. The rest, they say, is history. Wisconsin Dells is now the undisputed "Waterpark Capital of the World!®", with the greatest number of indoor and outdoor waterparks within this community of 20 square miles.

But let's get back to those 150 years preceding waterparks, when Wisconsin Dells was a hot tourism commodity for water attractions of a different sort.

Q. When did the first visitors come to Wisconsin Dells?

A. It was in the 1800s when travelers first made their way to the area for scenic rowboat tours on the Wisconsin River. Today river tours are still popular -- whether by riverboat, amphibious vehicles known as DUCKS, jet boats, fishing boats, canoes or kayaks. And the occasional rowboat.

Q. How did visitors first learn of the area?

A. In 1875, H.H. Bennett, widely recognized as one of the country's leading landscape photographers, opened a photography studio in Wisconsin Dells. Bennett was intrigued by the beauty of the area, and much of his photography was used in early promotional pieces. Bennett, by the way, is acclaimed for revolutionizing the world of photography with his 1888 invention of the stop-action camera shutter. His original studio still stands on the main avenue in the community.

Q. Is there a translation for Wisconsin Dells?

A. Wisconsin is derived from the Native American word meaning "dark rushing waters." The word "Dells" mimics the French word "dalles" and means "layers of flat rock."

Q. What is so special about the geology?

A. The formation of the Dells of the Wisconsin River began 500 million years ago, during the Cambrian period, when the area was covered by a huge sea of water. Gradually, the sand compacted and collected on the sea bottom, forming layers of solid rock, which went virtually untouched for millions of years. About 19,000 years ago, a glacier extended to within four miles east of the area, never touching the Dells.