Found: Stand Rock, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Found: STAND ROCK, DELLS OF THE WISCONSIN RIVER.
STAND ROCK is the most curious and wonderful formation in all the region.
It is a huge table supported by a single water-torn rather
irregular shaped column of rock, about 46 feet high.
The top is a great sandstone slab some 18x24 feet in area
and practically level. The is 5-1/2 feet from the main cliff.
Copyright by H. H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
"C.T. Art Colortone,"
Made only by Curt Teich & Co. Inc. Chicago, U.S.A. Circa 1940.

Found: Lone Rock, Dells of he Wisconsin River, Kilbourn, Wis. Published by W.S. Blatchley Kilbourn, Wis.

At first it was all about the rocks and the stunning sandstone land forms etched by the water in the driftless area of Wisconsin. The place was eventually named Kilbourn City after its founder, a land surveyor named Byron Kilbourn. Photographer H.H. Bennett was so inspired by this landscape on the Wisconsin River, that he began making photographic views to sell at the new railroad stations to entice people to visit. He invented an instantaneous shutter to capture his son jumping from the cliff to stand rock and sold Ho Chunk artifacts from his studio. So successful was his venture making postcards and 3-D stereoscope cards that Kilbourn City became a bustling destination. The town name changed to Wisconsin Dells in 1931 to more clearly identify it in the public mind with the landscape. Decades later, "the Dells" reinvented itself as "the water park capital of the world." Its theme parks often overwhelming the senses to such a degree that visitors can miss the landscape that started it all.

Found: Moonlight at Stand Rock, Wis Dells, WI

Found: 3726. Moonlight at Stand Rock, Dells of the Wisconsin River.  Published by E.A. Bishop, Racine circa 1930

Found: Chief Silvertongue, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Found: Chief Silver Tongue real photo postcard on Azo paper.
Note handwritten on back in ballpoint pen reads:
"Our guide at the Wisconsin Dells, Kilbourne, Wis. 7/15/31".

Found: Chippewa Indian Chief photographed and published by
Annabelle Gallagher Post Cards & Pub, Duluth, MN, circa 1960s.

Found: Indian Chief and Tepee, photo and published by
G. R. Brown Co., Route 5, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, circa 1960s.

Found: Chief Blow Snake in full ceremonial dress. Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Photo by Arthur Langford, Genuine Natural Color by Dexter Press circa 1950s.
Postmarked Merrill, Wis. June 30, 1955, 3 PM.

Found: Heap Big "Little Indian Chief".  Greetings from Lac du Flambeau, Wis.
Genuine Curteich Color postcard circa 1930s.
Postmarked Lac Du Flambeau, Jun 26, 1952 5 PM.

Found: Stand Rock. A trained dog leaps the chasm at Stand Rock.
Spectacular scenic formation at Wisconsn Dells.
He affords amateur photographers an unusual "shot" and is a thrill
to all visitors copyright H. H. Bennett Studio circa 1950s.

Found: Ink Stand. Lower Dells at the Wisconsin is like an old-style ink well.
The tall pine on top resembles a quill pen. Wisocnsin, Dells, Wisconsin.
Copyrighted by the H. H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin,
"Plastichrome" by Colorpictures, Boston, circa 1950s.

Found: The Sunrise Call at the Stand Rock Indian Ceremonial, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., is sun in the Zuni language.
The play of light on the feather headdress of the singer resembles the rising of the sun. Suitable for framing.
Copyrighted by H.H. Bennet Studio, Wisconsin Dells, Wis Foilex printed in W. Germany circa 1960s.

In mid-century Wisconsin Dells and elsewhere in Wisconsin, any picture was a good picture if it included an "Indian Chief". In the Dells, it was a gig involving a great amount of theater. Among the most renowned was Chief Silver Tongue (1882-1964) (a/k/a Oscar Norton), a Hopi.  He was an attorney turned singer on the vaudeville circuit who later staged an "Indian Pagent" that ran for 30 years each summer on Stand Rock in the Dells.