There’s a photo studio in Wisconsin Dells that’s turning out some photos that are probably a little scarier than what’s hanging on your wall. Using old-fashioned and almost forgotten techniques, the HH Bennett Studio & Museum has photos sessions that literally raise the dead. Sit down, smile, and enjoy the moment… because what’s coming is simply terrifying. Read on to see why HH Bennett Studio & Museum is the creepiest photo studio in Wisconsin.
H. H. Bennett was a Civil War veteran who started making pictures in 1865 in a town called Kilbourn City, a place that’s now Wisconsin Dells. Bennett became very well known for his work photographing the nearby Dells of the Wisconsin River.
H.H. Bennett Studio and Museum
Bennett’s amazing photos caused people to flock to his town and soon it was a bustling tourist destination. In 1875 he opened a photo studio in a red brick building that still stands today.
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Bennett died in 1908, but his family kept operating the studio for a very long time. In fact they ran it until 1998 when it was donated to the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
H.H. Bennett Studio and Museum
The society has continued to operate the historic studio as a museum. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
H.H. Bennett Studio and Museum
The museum has exhibits that show how the studio was used by Bennett, and there are many historical images to admire. But you can also make an image of your own.
Facebook / HH Bennett Studio & Museum
After the Civil War, many people were desperate to connect with departed loved ones and enterprising photographers were more than willing to help, creating double image “ghost” images.
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The images were eventually discovered to be frauds but the technique continued. Today the studio offers tintype sessions where participants can create images that are just as creepy as the ghostly photos from the 1800s!
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H.H. Bennett Studio and Museum is open seasonally, Thursday-Sunday, and is located at 215 Broadway in Wisconsin. Learn more about the museum here. Not far from the museum, you’ll find a haunted road that you might want to avoid at night!
H.H. Bennett Studio and Museum
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Address: H. H. Bennett Studio, 215 Broadway, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965, USA
