Since 1922, our headquarters have been in the Baker Mansion, Altoona. After leasing the building for two decades, the society purchased it from the Baker heirs in 1941. Here the society operates its museum, at which visitors can see period rooms depicting the Baker family's lifestyle, as well as exhibits on the early iron industry, transportation, medicine, military history, toys, geology, and education. Changing displays are presented in the second floor gallery. The mansion also holds the society's offices, library and archives.

The society also owns the Springfield Furnace Mansion (Royer House) which has been rehabilitated for adaptive reuse as two apartment units and community meeting space; the Etna Furnace stack, which was stabilized in 1990; and the Dick Schoolhouse, which received a new roof and partial exterior repairs in 1997.

Through the efforts of Rep. Rick Geist, the Society received a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Grant of $700,000 for a major rehabilitation of the Baker Mansion. Exterior restoration was completed in 2001.

The society operates on an annual budget of approximately $60,000. Funding comes from memberships, museum admission fees, donations, grants, and fundraising events. We receive a yearly allocation from the county of $1,000, which has been matched by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). Funding for PHMC (and consequently all of the sites, organizations, and grants it supported) has been excluded from the state budget for the next fiscal year. The society operates with one full-time and two part-time employees, five to six summer student docents, and approximately 60 volunteers.

The society is a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations, the Alliance of Pennsylvania County Historical Societies, the American Association for State and Local History, the Allegheny Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Blair County Chamber of Commerce.