City in Pennsylvania, United States
Photo: Csoldner187, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Altoona is a city in central Pennsylvania. Altoona was founded as a railroad town by the Pennsylvania Railroad as the site of their Altoona Works shops, and its history as a railroad town still shows in the town today despite the decline of the railroad and its eventual absorption into Penn Central, Conrail, and now Norfolk Southern.
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A Roman Catholic cathedral
Built by the Pennsylvania Railroad to allow trains to climb the steep Allegheny Mountains, this historic and well-known construction is a mecca for railfans. Located along the current Norfolk Southern east-west mainline, over 50 trains per day pass around the triple-track curve. Admission includes access to a small museum and a funicular ride up the hill to a grassy area on the inside of the curve, which has over 180 degrees' view of railroading action.
in downtown Altoona is a museum showing Altoona's history as a railroad town.
in nearby Gallitzen
The Allegheny Portage Railroad was a great achievement in early travel. Charles Dickens, Jenny Linn, and Ulysses S. Grant traveled over the Allegheny Mountains. They braved a system that injured passengers on a weekly basis. A system of inclined planes and a nine hundred foot tunnel carved through solid rock by Welsh coalminers made this feat possible. For twenty years, it was the fastest way to cross the rough and wild terrain of Pennsylvania. The site features a recreated incline and winch used to pull portaged barges over the hill.
Watch a live-action baseball team - up close and personal!
Family fun park, with the oldest operating wooden roller coaster in the world.
Historic theatre that is host to productions from a variety of local theatre groups and schools. Price is dependent on production.
Local pizza shop downtown serving wood fired pizza, sandwiches, and good salads. Also has a variety of drinks.
Cool place with decent pub grub and a very wide selection of craft brews from all over the country (and the world). Kind of strange "suburban" location but probably the best bar in town, especially if you like beer. Reasonable prices.
Coffee shop with a traditional coffee menu and some food options.
Serves a variety of local beers and other beverages. Also has different food options, ranging from appetizers to dinner.
Another local coffee shop, with a more specialty coffee menu similar to Starbucks. Also has some breakfast and lunch food options.
Offers a lobby with a fountain and fireplace, 124-rooms, and Sunday Brunch buffet.
The manufacturer of Mallo Cup and Smoothies peanut butter cups has an outlet store onsite at their factory. Factory tours may possibly be available.
By bus
By car
Altoona is located along Interstate 99, which can be reached from I-70 from the Washington-Baltimore area or Pittsburgh area, from I-76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike) from the Philadelphia area, or from…
By plane
Altoona's airport is Altoona-Blair County Airport (AOO). United Airlines operates direct flights to both Washington Dulles and Johnstown, PA.
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Altoona · Regional · AOO
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