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1901 Map of The Dells

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of The Dells
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1930
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1930

About this map

The Wisconsin River carves a dramatic path through this 1901 survey, showcasing the early layout of the Dells region before it became a modernized tourism hub. The settlement of Kilbourn, later renamed, serves as a primary rail and river focal point, situated across from the township of Newport. Geologists and local historians will find the detailed naming of narrow river features particularly valuable, including Witches Gulch, Coldwater Canyon, and Artists Glen, as well as prominent rock formations like Steamboat Rock and Elephants Back.

The surrounding townships of Lyndon, Dellona, and Excelsior reveal a landscape defined by small-scale agriculture and early transportation networks. The Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul R. R. cuts through the northern half of the sheet, connecting towns like Lyndon and Plainfield. To the south, the Baraboo River meanders near Reedsburg, while Mirror Lake and Delton appear in their turn-of-the-century state, providing a look at the rural character of Sauk, Juneau, and Adams Counties at the dawn of the 1900s.