Wisconsin Dells in Columbia County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Leaping the Chasm
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 2, 2020
1. Leaping the Chasm Marker
WHI 2101 Ashley Bennett, son of photographer H.H. Bennett, jumping to Stand Rock, caught in midair by the instantaneous shutter.
Erected by H.H. Bennett Studio.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Events. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
Location. 43° 40.554′ N, 89° 48.992′ W. Marker is in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, in Columbia County. Stand Rock is only accessible by Dells Boat Tours. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wisconsin Dells WI 53965, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Indians -- Flora & Fauna (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); H.H. Bennett Photography & Promotion of the Wisconsin Dells Area (approx. 0.2 miles away); This Beauty Is Yours Because Others Before You Love The Dells (approx. one mile away); A Glimpse of the Old Dells (approx. 1.1 miles away); Lumber Raftsmen (approx. 3.6 miles away); Natural Ingenuity (approx. 3.7 miles away); Stanton Peter Helland
this page online
More about this marker. According to our guide; in the past tourists were allowed to make the leap to Stand Rock, but later for safety reason (and perhaps the lost of a few guests) only the guides were allowed (required?) to make the leap. Now saner heads have prevailed and a dog is hired to demonstrate the leap.
Also see . . . H.H. Bennett -- Wikipedia. In the meantime, he continued to innovate in the field of photography by inventing a stop action shutter which allowed him to take photographs of instantaneous events. Previously, it took several minutes for a camera to take a picture, and any movement of the subject being photographed over this time caused the picture to become blurry. After Bennett created the new shutter, he was able to take clear pictures of moving subjects. The best known photograph taken by Bennett with this device was an 1886 image of his son Ashley jumping between two rock formations in the Dells.[2] Boston audiences of 1890 gasped when this photograph was projected as a magic lantern slide. (Submitted on October 1, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 2, 2020
2. Stand Rock
Note the dog at the edge of the rock.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 390 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 1, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
