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Allegheny Portage Railroad Museum

The Altoona area (well, actually Hollidaysburg) burgeoned in the early 1800s because of its role in canal transport between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.  New York had the Erie Canal and Maryland had the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal--Pennsylvania had the Main Line Canal.  This canal system consisted of 276 miles of canals and 85 miles of railroad track and transported people and goods across the state of Pennsylvania.

Due to the steep terrain between Hollidaysburg and Johnstown, canal boats were taken from the canal and placed on railroad cars.  These were moved up (and then down) a series of 10 inclined planes by stationery steam engines.

The National Park Service's Allegheny Portage Railroad site includes a visitor's center, a movie, exhibits and a walk which overlooks Incline #6.