Altoona, PA

Altoona grew around the Pennsylvania Railroad, which began developing the settlement in 1849 as a base for building its route across Pennsylvania. The nearby Horseshoe Curve, completed in 1854, enabled heavy trains to cross the Allegheny barrier on a manageable gradient. Railway workshops subsequently became the city's principal industrial employer, producing locomotives, rolling stock and equipment. The curve's designation as a National Historic Landmark reflects the importance of that engineering achievement.

The Mishler Theatre preserves another aspect of the railway city's history. Financed by Isaac Mishler, it opened on 15 February 1906, suffered a devastating fire that October and was rebuilt in three months. Its elaborate exterior and Baroque interior decoration expressed the ambitions of a growing industrial community. Preserved by the Blair County Arts Foundation, the theatre is home to Altoona Community Theatre and the Altoona Symphony Orchestra.