Pond Repair
in Altoona, PA

Altoona’s development is inseparable from the history of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Before European settlement, the surrounding region was inhabited by Native Americans, including peoples associated with the Iroquois Confederacy. European settlers began arriving during the eighteenth century, and early industries included iron production. Transportation transformed the region during the nineteenth century, first through the Pennsylvania Canal and Allegheny Portage Railroad and later through a new east-west railroad. The Pennsylvania Railroad began developing the community that became Altoona in 1849 as a staging area and location for its railroad operations.

By 1850, railroad tracks reached Altoona from Harrisburg, but the Allegheny Ridge presented a major engineering obstacle. Completion of Horseshoe Curve in 1854 created a practical route across the mountains and helped establish Altoona as one of the railroad’s most important centers. Altoona incorporated as a borough in 1854 and became a city in 1868. Railroad employment drove extraordinary growth; the population climbed from roughly 2,000 in 1854 to nearly 20,000 by 1880 and peaked at approximately 82,000 in 1930. The city’s railroad shops produced and maintained locomotives and other equipment, while streetcars encouraged development beyond the original downtown. After World War II, the transition away from steam locomotives reduced railroad employment, although rail maintenance remained part of the local economy.

Additional information is available from the City of Altoona and Wikipedia’s Altoona, Pennsylvania page.

Top 10 Attractions in Altoona

1. Railroaders Memorial Museum — Appropriately located in a city built around the railroad industry, this museum preserves the stories of the generations of Central Pennsylvanians who worked for the railroad. Exhibits incorporate artifacts, immersive environments, films, and life-size displays depicting work at the Altoona Shops.
2. Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark — Completed in 1854, Horseshoe Curve allowed the Pennsylvania Railroad to overcome the Allegheny Ridge west of Altoona. The engineering achievement became fundamental to the city’s development and remains an active railroad corridor and nationally significant historic landmark.
3. Lakemont Park — Operating since 1894, Lakemont Park is a longstanding Altoona recreation destination. The free-admission park provides attractions, batting cages, pavilions, events, and seasonal entertainment for visitors and local families.
4. Baker Mansion History Museum — Constructed between 1845 and 1849 for ironmaster Elias Baker, this Greek Revival mansion now serves as the home of the Blair County Historical Society. Guided tours explore the Baker family and broader themes in Blair County history.
5. Mishler Theatre — The historic Mishler Theatre is one of downtown Altoona’s major cultural venues. Operated by the Blair County Arts Foundation, it hosts theatrical productions, concerts, community performances, and other live entertainment.
6. Fort Roberdeau — Located north of central Altoona, this reconstructed Revolutionary-era fort provides guided tours, historic reenactments, educational programming, and special events. Its setting also showcases the mountain scenery of Blair County.
7. Canoe Creek State Park — This 961-acre state park near Altoona contains a 155-acre lake surrounded by wetlands, forests, and fields. Popular activities include hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, wildlife watching, picnicking, and winter recreation.
8. Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art — The museum’s Altoona location provides opportunities to experience visual art through exhibitions, educational programming, and cultural events, adding another dimension to the city’s arts community.
9. Quaint Corner Children’s Museum & Discovery Center — Established in 1986, this children’s museum occupies an 1893 Victorian house and provides hands-on spaces devoted to science, art, music, imaginative play, and learning.
10. Peoples Natural Gas Field and Altoona Curve — Home to the Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the ballpark provides professional baseball, promotions, and family entertainment during the baseball season.