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1901 Map of The Dells

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of The Dells
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1909
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1909

About this map

The Wisconsin River carves through this early twentieth-century landscape, revealing the iconic geological formations that define the region. Near the settlement of Kilbourn, the river passes through the narrow, rocky corridors of the Lower Dells, flanked by distinctive landmarks like Steamboat Rock and Elephants Back. The map highlights the intricate tributary systems and canyons including Witches Gulch and Coldwater Canyon, which were already established as notable terrain features before widespread modernization.

Rail transport dictated the local economy, with the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R. cutting through Lyndon and the Chicago and Northwestern R. R. serving Reedsburg in the southwest. Between these rail corridors, the land transitions from the level Dell Prairie to more complex relief at Rattlesnake Knob and The Haystacks. This document provides a clear view of the area's transition into a destination for geography and travel, centered on the waters of Mirror Lake and the winding Dell Creek.