For the more than 100 years tourists have been visiting the Dells, they have been buying souvenirs, and a few Dells area residents have quite a collection of the antique ones.

Bob Steinweg's parents started the Uptown Trading Post in 1939 and he continues that business along with Gifts of the World in Lake Delton since then. "A lot of people have been in the souvenir business in the Dells."

When his parents bought the building from Art Kane for about $11,000, it had previously been a brewery and a tavern. At that time the store was next door to the Arntz Cafe, which Steinweg said was one of the best restaurants in town and people would line up to get in the cafe. That helped his parents' business, he said.

Before buying the store, Steinweg's father was a teacher and in the first year of business, he made between $2,000 and $2,500, which was more than he was making as a teacher.

Prior to World War II, souvenir salesmen would come to the town by train and then set up displays of their samples in either one of the larger hotels or they would rent space in the community building, next door to the police station on Oak Street. "It was an early version of the trade show," Steinweg said.

Stores would order souvenirs and receive delivery in the spring, hoping the order would last the season, he said.

Turquoise jewelry salesmen always came by car to sell their silver and turquoise jewelry that was a popular item with tourists. They would come cross country from the Southwest and they were the only ones who had silver jewelry. During World War II, silver was not available to others except Native Americans.

The Steinwegs and other early souvenir stores also bought locally. From the Ho-Chunk they bought tom toms, bow and arrow sets and baskets, Steinweg said. Another popular Native American item was beaded belts that continue to sell today.

When his parents started the business, the most popular items sold were postcards and guidebooks, Steinweg told the members of the Dells Country Historical Society Nov. 11. Noting he was the oldest person still in the business in the Dells, Steinweg said the business has changed in the last 10 years. Today the most sold item is probably T-shirts, he said. The T-shirts in previous days were printed with a scene, Steinweg, "not some of the stupid stuff on them today." Other items still sold include key chains, paperweights, although the ones today have laser images inside, plates but good china plates are hard to find, jackknives, salt and pepper shakers and Indian pottery.

In the early days of the store, Steinweg said a popular souvenir was a cup and saucer. Today, cups and saucers don't sell well, but mugs do.

During World War II, bus loads of servicemen in training at Camp McCoy would come to the Dells. Steinweg said his dad had a shooting gallery were live ammunition was shot in a steel box. The sharpshooters from Camp McCoy took home lots of prizes such as stuffed animals or the top prize of an Indian blanket.

Souvenirs are much the same all over the country with sweatshirts and T-shirts leading in popularity, he said. Only a few have items to sell specific to their region. One of the unique souvenirs in the Dells was Indian baskets, which still can be purchased here, but the hand-made baskets are very expensive now.