Altoona, Railway town in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
Description
Altoona is a city at the base of Brush Mountain in Blair County, Pennsylvania, sitting between Logan Valley and Pleasant Valley. The city spreads across several hills and valleys with neighborhoods of row houses and brick buildings.
History
The Pennsylvania Railroad founded the city in 1849 and developed it into a major rail hub that drove the industrial growth of the region. The railroad shops and yards employed thousands of workers over the decades and shaped the economic structure of the city.
Culture
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament stands as a central religious landmark, serving as one of two primary locations for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
Practical
The city lies along major highways in central Pennsylvania and is accessible from Pittsburgh and Harrisburg via regional roads. Visitors can find parking downtown and explore main attractions on foot or by car.
Did you know?
The Horseshoe Curve, a railroad curve in the mountains west of the city, was a target for saboteurs during World War II because of its importance for freight transport. The curve allowed trains to climb a steep grade without using a cog railway.
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Leap-The-Dips
5.4 km
Lakemont Park
5.3 km
Railroaders Memorial Museum
587 m
Baker Mansion
3.3 km
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
725 m
Skyliner
5.2 km
Penn Alto Building
550 m
Toboggan
5.4 km
Downtown Altoona Historic District
365 m
Lakemont Park
5.4 km
Llyswen Historic District
4.1 km
Allegheny Furnace
3.1 km
Central Trust Company Buildings
620 m
Broad Avenue Historic District
2.3 km
Temple Beth Israel
2.9 km
Mishler Theatre
554 m
Knickerbocker Historic District
3.9 kmLittle Leaper
5.3 kmPlayhouse Theater
920 mPark Hills Plaza 7
5.6 kmQuaint Corner Children's Museum
1.5 kmThe Cottage Observatory
6.1 kmJuniata Theatre
697 mDevils Elbow
5.9 kmSouthern Alleghenies Museum of Art Altoona
544 m
J.L. Noble School
2.1 kmGreat Auk
2.7 kmUS Postal Service
835 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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