Baker Mansion, Historic residence in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Baker Mansion is a three-story stone residence in Altoona featuring six Ionic columns across its front facade, built in the Greek Revival style. The structure contains multiple rooms arranged across different levels and now functions as a museum operated by the Blair County Historical Society.
Construction occurred between 1844 and 1849 under architect Robert Cary Long Jr. for ironmaster Elias Baker, reflecting the family's economic power in regional iron production. The stone mansion embodied the wealth and standing of prominent industrial families in 19th-century Pennsylvania.
The mansion now serves as home to the Blair County Historical Society, displaying period furnishings and objects that reveal how wealthy families lived in 19th-century Pennsylvania. Visitors can see the rooms arranged as they would have been used daily by the household.
Guided tours allow visitors to explore the rooms and learn about the Greek Revival architecture and the family's history in the region. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since the tour covers multiple floors and various interconnected spaces.
The mansion preserves Anna Baker's wedding dress, stored away after her father refused to allow her marriage to her chosen partner. This garment tells a personal story about the constraints placed on family members during that era.
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