In the mid-nineteenth century, traveling for recreation became increasingly popular in the United States. Advancements in transportation, especially railroads and steamships, coupled with romantic conceptions of the nation's landscape helped encourage the growth of domestic tourism. People who would have earlier balked at the inconvenience of traveling began to take journeys for spiritual renewal, physical regeneration, freedom from social constraints, or simply to "see the sights." By the middle of the century, many enterprising Americans were ready to serve the needs of this new class called tourists.
As industrialization and urbanization transformed American life, many middle and upper class Americans... more...
![Link to article: A survey of past and present hotels in Wisconsin, 1898](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A survey of past and present hotels in Wisconsin, 1898 |
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![Link to article: A trip to Wisconsin Dells in 1879](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | A trip to Wisconsin Dells in 1879 |
![Link to article: La Crosse's first motor-bike, 1900](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/article.gif) | La Crosse's first motor-bike, 1900 |
![Link to artifacts: An Aqualand water ski used for slalom skiing](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/artifacts.gif) | An Aqualand water ski used for slalom skiing |
![Link to book: A fisherman's guide to Northern Wisconsin](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A fisherman's guide to Northern Wisconsin |
![Link to book: An illustrated guide for tourists to Wisconsin Dells, 1875](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | An illustrated guide for tourists to Wisconsin Dells, 1875 |
![Link to book: Fly-fishing in the Northwoods, 1875-1877.](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Fly-fishing in the Northwoods, 1875-1877. |
![Link to book: A tourist booklet from Wisconsin Dells, ca. 1930](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A tourist booklet from Wisconsin Dells, ca. 1930 |
![Link to book: A folding brochure for a Wisconsin Dells resort, ca. 1930](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A folding brochure for a Wisconsin Dells resort, ca. 1930 |
![Link to book: A Dells Tourist Brochure, 1932](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A Dells Tourist Brochure, 1932 |
![Link to book: A Tourist Brochure for Shawano and the Menominee Indian Reservation, ca. 1925](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A Tourist Brochure for Shawano and the Menominee Indian Reservation, ca. 1925 |
![Link to book: A Tourist Brochure for Marinette Co., ca. 1923](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A Tourist Brochure for Marinette Co., ca. 1923 |
![Link to book: The Pneumatic, a progressive monthly paper for cyclists](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | The Pneumatic, a progressive monthly paper for cyclists |
![Link to book: A travel guide to healthful resorts in the upper Midwest, 1875](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A travel guide to healthful resorts in the upper Midwest, 1875 |
![Link to book: A 1910 automobile travel guide to Wisconsin](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A 1910 automobile travel guide to Wisconsin |
![Link to book: John Nolen drafts a plan for a state park system in 1909](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | John Nolen drafts a plan for a state park system in 1909 |
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![Link to book: A 1923 brochure for Ross's Teal Lake Lodge near Hayward](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A 1923 brochure for Ross's Teal Lake Lodge near Hayward |
![Link to book: Official guidebook for the Wisconsin Centennial Exposition, 1948](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | Official guidebook for the Wisconsin Centennial Exposition, 1948 |
![Link to book: A Manual for Operating a Girls' Summer Camp, 1955](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | A Manual for Operating a Girls' Summer Camp, 1955 |
![Link to book: An 1897 bicycling guide to Wisconsin](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/book.gif) | An 1897 bicycling guide to Wisconsin |
![Link to collections: Promotional material created for the 1948 Wisconsin Centennial Exposition](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/collections.gif) | Promotional material created for the 1948 Wisconsin Centennial Exposition |
![Link to images: Increase Lapham examining a meteorite, ca. 1868](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Increase Lapham examining a meteorite, ca. 1868 |
![Link to images: Photographs of the Starlite Drive-in in Green Bay, 1959](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Photographs of the Starlite Drive-in in Green Bay, 1959 |
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![Link to images: Photograph album depicting a Northwoods Summer Camp for Girls in the 1940s](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | Photograph album depicting a Northwoods Summer Camp for Girls in the 1940s |
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![Link to images: The photographs of H.H. Bennett](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/images.gif) | The photographs of H.H. Bennett |
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![Link to manuscript: Four Madison Teenagers Paddle the Wisconsin, Mississippi and Rock Rivers](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | Four Madison Teenagers Paddle the Wisconsin, Mississippi and Rock Rivers |
![Link to manuscript: Memorabilia from a Northwoods Summer Camp for Girls, 1949-1951, box 1](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | Memorabilia from a Northwoods Summer Camp for Girls, 1949-1951, box 1 |
![Link to manuscript: Memorabilia from a Northwoods Summer Camp for Girls, 1949-1951, box 2](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | Memorabilia from a Northwoods Summer Camp for Girls, 1949-1951, box 2 |
![Link to manuscript: Final reports of the Wisconsin Centennial Exposition organizing committees, 1948](https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/images/manuscript.gif) | Final reports of the Wisconsin Centennial Exposition organizing committees, 1948 |