kevin m. fitzgerald. located near the bottom edge of the central plain on the wisconsin river in...
TRANSCRIPT
Kevin M. Fitzgerald
Located near the bottomedge of the Central Plainon the Wisconsin River
In Columbia County, southof Adams and SE of Juneau
North of Devil’s Lake
Over 500 Million years old, during the Cambrian periodWas a sand-encrusted shore of Glacial lake
WisconsinOver time, formations compacted the sand,
creating various hard and soft sandstonesContained layers of Iron Oxide and Silica
Harder to erode; slower ratesOverall: irregular erosion patterns
About 19,000 years agoLast lobe of the glacier extended
near the DellsNever actually reached the Dells
Glacier began to melt, creating Glacial Lake WisconsinAbout the size of The Great Salt
LakeOver 150 ft deepCovered most of Adams and Juneau CountiesCovered the Wisconsin Dells area
14,000 years agoLast ice dam gave out near (what’s now known as
the Cascade Mountain ski area)Catastrophic Event
Dropped the lake by 100 ft in a few daysThis draining was the most likely event responsible for
the creation of the Wisconsin DellsScoured away the sandstoneTheory suggests that the Dells were created in just a
few days
TodayErosion is still occuring: wind, rain, tree routes,
human
Until 1851 - Region around the Dells was primarily a logging area
La Crosse-Milwaukee Railroad planned to create bridge near the Dells.
1853 – Town of Newport sprang up at the expected site of the bridge.
Newport’s population quickly rose to over 2000, a “boomtown”
1857 – Railroad finally came throughSurprise Newport: the railroad chose a
different site one-mile upstream of Newport.New site known as Kilbourn City
Named after Byron Kilbourn, an American surveyor, railroad executive, and politician Was part of the three “founding fathers” of
Milwaukee
Newport became a ghost townEverybody moved upstream to the new site of
Kilbourn.
1931 – Kilbourn City officially renamed to Wisconsin Dells.Has always called the Wisconsin Dells or
“dellas” in FrenchEarliest Dells Capitalists
H. H Bennett – Photographer (1857)Took shots of the areaContributed to the increasing publicity of the areaSold his prints to visitors as souvenirs.
1956 –Boat tours startedWooden row boat tours
1973 – Wooden boats UpgradeFirst use of a Steam boat up here
1894 – Gasoline engine
Claims to be the “Water Park Capital of the World”
About 5M annual visitors18 indoor, 3 outdoor water parksBoat toursGolf, Mini-GolfGo-KartsWater sportsHorseback ridingTommy Barlet Thrill ShowHo-Chunk CasinoMany other attractions
2005’s recorded income was over $8M
Largest source$6M from Room tax
Largest expense: MarketingVisitors tend to buy gifts, etc
Wisconsin Dells is home to 2000 residentsHighest temperature ever recorded in the
state was recorded in the DellsJuly 13, 1936 : 114o F