History Speaks
Lecture Series
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LOCATION: Railroaders Memorial Museum
DATE/TIME: Designated Wednesdays, 7:00 PM ADMISSION: Free, Donations Accepted WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 A History of Claysburg with Richard Allison WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 The Revolutionary War Era in Blair County with Jim Lowe and Glenn Nelson WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 The Knickerbocker Historic District in Altoona with Dr. Michael Farrow WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 What's in a Name? Exploring the Hidden History Behind Blair County Locations with Kevin Stiver |
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
Before Their Stories Fade: Remembering Local Veterans with Joey Lehman WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19 The History of Lakemont Park with Jim Lowe WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 A History of the PRR and Its Altoona Works Operations with Bob Fleegle WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21 Colonial-Era Legends and Folklore with Michael Allison WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 My Grandfather's War: From Pennsylvania to Germany with Mark Frederick |
SUNDAY ON THE LAWN
CONCERT SERIES
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LOCATION: Baker Mansion History Museum
DATE/TIME: Designated Sundays, 2:00 PM ADMISSION: Free, Donations Accepted SUNDAY, JUNE 7 The Rocket Blasters SUNDAY, JUNE 14 The 814-5 Brass Quintet SUNDAY, JUNE 28 Strings SUNDAY, JULY 12 The Servello Family SUNDAY, JULY 19 The American Mood |
SUNDAY, JULY 26 The Altoona Community Band SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 Acoustic Express SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 The Altoona Brass Collective SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 Firewheel Music SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 The 46th PA Regiment Band SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Altoona Area High School Student Band |
AFTERNOON TEAS
AT BAKER MANSION
LOCATION: Baker Mansion History Museum
DATE/TIME: Designated Days, 2:00 PM
ADMISSION: $20.00 Per Guest
Baker Mansion Bingo Tea - Join us for our final public tea event of the 2026 season! Taking place on Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 PM, this afternoon tea experience will feature rounds of Bingo with various prizes awarded to the winners! Of course, these games will be joined by our homemade assortment of hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and selected teas. Tickets are $20.00 per guest and are available now via the payment link below!
DATE/TIME: Designated Days, 2:00 PM
ADMISSION: $20.00 Per Guest
Baker Mansion Bingo Tea - Join us for our final public tea event of the 2026 season! Taking place on Saturday, September 12 at 2:00 PM, this afternoon tea experience will feature rounds of Bingo with various prizes awarded to the winners! Of course, these games will be joined by our homemade assortment of hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and selected teas. Tickets are $20.00 per guest and are available now via the payment link below!
Baker Mansion Bingo Tea Tickets:
SOLD OUT!
A Mansion Divided - Civil War Living History Event
LOCATION: Baker Mansion History Museum
DATE/TIME: Saturday, August 29 And Sunday, August 30, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM
ADMISSION: Outdoor Activities Free, Standard Admission Prices For Indoor Displays/Tours
Blair County is rich in Civil War history that is both well-known and hidden. This year, we are continuing the celebration and remembrance of this fascinating history with our second-annual A Mansion Divided: The Baker Family and Blair County in the Civil War living history event! Taking place across an entire weekend this year, this event will showcase many scenes from our local Civil War history for guests of all ages. Meet the local militiamen (nicknamed the "Chicken Raiders") who helped defend our area, visit Civil War field hospital displays, get a tintype photo taken by Keystone Tintype, and browse rare artifact exhibits! Sunday, August 30 will also feature an outdoor performance by the 46th PA Regiment Band at 2:00 PM!
All of this and more, including food vendor appearances by The Dirty Soda Shack and Royer Barbecue Company, will be taking place here at this historic home! All outdoor events for each day are free, but standard admission rates apply for tours of the mansion with additional Civil War artifact exhibits inside.
For a complete schedule of events for this living history weekend, please visit our Facebook and Instagram pages!
DATE/TIME: Saturday, August 29 And Sunday, August 30, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM
ADMISSION: Outdoor Activities Free, Standard Admission Prices For Indoor Displays/Tours
Blair County is rich in Civil War history that is both well-known and hidden. This year, we are continuing the celebration and remembrance of this fascinating history with our second-annual A Mansion Divided: The Baker Family and Blair County in the Civil War living history event! Taking place across an entire weekend this year, this event will showcase many scenes from our local Civil War history for guests of all ages. Meet the local militiamen (nicknamed the "Chicken Raiders") who helped defend our area, visit Civil War field hospital displays, get a tintype photo taken by Keystone Tintype, and browse rare artifact exhibits! Sunday, August 30 will also feature an outdoor performance by the 46th PA Regiment Band at 2:00 PM!
All of this and more, including food vendor appearances by The Dirty Soda Shack and Royer Barbecue Company, will be taking place here at this historic home! All outdoor events for each day are free, but standard admission rates apply for tours of the mansion with additional Civil War artifact exhibits inside.
For a complete schedule of events for this living history weekend, please visit our Facebook and Instagram pages!
Civil War Altoona Walking Tour
LOCATION: Meeting At Levity Brewing Co. Altoona
DATE/TIME: Saturday, August 29, 7:00 PM
ADMISSION: $10.00 Per Guest
Historic walking tour guided by Dr. Jared Frederick that will explore Altoona and Blair County's connections to the Civil War era! This tour will see guests navigate through Downtown Altoona and discover the hidden connections that we have to our nation's most pivotal conflict. The meeting and ending point for this event will be at Levity Brewing Co. Altoona located on 11th Avenue here in Altoona, and guests are encouraged to head inside for a drink and bite to eat before and/or afterwards!
Tickets for this event are $10.00 per guest, and the tour will begin at 7:00 PM that evening. There are no physical/printed tickets needed for this event, as attendees will be checked in via a guest list. All ages are welcome!
Civil War Altoona Walking Tour Tickets:
DATE/TIME: Saturday, August 29, 7:00 PM
ADMISSION: $10.00 Per Guest
Historic walking tour guided by Dr. Jared Frederick that will explore Altoona and Blair County's connections to the Civil War era! This tour will see guests navigate through Downtown Altoona and discover the hidden connections that we have to our nation's most pivotal conflict. The meeting and ending point for this event will be at Levity Brewing Co. Altoona located on 11th Avenue here in Altoona, and guests are encouraged to head inside for a drink and bite to eat before and/or afterwards!
Tickets for this event are $10.00 per guest, and the tour will begin at 7:00 PM that evening. There are no physical/printed tickets needed for this event, as attendees will be checked in via a guest list. All ages are welcome!
Civil War Altoona Walking Tour Tickets:
SOLD OUT!
THEN AND NOW:
HISTORICAL BUS TOURS
LOCATION: Departing From Baker Mansion History Museum
DESTINATIONS: Forgotten Areas Of Sixth Avenue (Fish Bowl Inn, Old Grand Hotel, Elias Baker's Grist Mill, And More)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, September 20, 1:00 PM And 3:30 PM
ADMISSION: $35.00 Per Guest
Historic bus tour led by Dr. Michael Farrow that will highlight the stories of forgotten sites along Sixth Avenue in Altoona, PA. Some of the specific sites that will be visited during this tour include Canon Station's Fishbowl Inn, the former Grand Hotel on Second Street, and the location of Elias Baker's original grist mill. These sites will be joined by a variety of historic businesses, homes, and churches that still exist across this area.
Two tours will take place across Sunday, September 20, with the first at 1:00 PM and the second at 3:30 PM. Admission is $35.00 per guest, and this cost includes a complimentary tour booklet that contains various images relating to the visited sites. Each tour has a limit of 25 guests, so reserve your space soon!
DESTINATIONS: Forgotten Areas Of Sixth Avenue (Fish Bowl Inn, Old Grand Hotel, Elias Baker's Grist Mill, And More)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, September 20, 1:00 PM And 3:30 PM
ADMISSION: $35.00 Per Guest
Historic bus tour led by Dr. Michael Farrow that will highlight the stories of forgotten sites along Sixth Avenue in Altoona, PA. Some of the specific sites that will be visited during this tour include Canon Station's Fishbowl Inn, the former Grand Hotel on Second Street, and the location of Elias Baker's original grist mill. These sites will be joined by a variety of historic businesses, homes, and churches that still exist across this area.
Two tours will take place across Sunday, September 20, with the first at 1:00 PM and the second at 3:30 PM. Admission is $35.00 per guest, and this cost includes a complimentary tour booklet that contains various images relating to the visited sites. Each tour has a limit of 25 guests, so reserve your space soon!
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Tour 1 at 1:00 PM Tickets:
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Tour 2 at 3:30 PM Tickets:
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Paranormal Encounters
at THE baker mansion
LOCATION: Baker Mansion History Museum
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 18, 8:00 PM-11:00 PM
ADMISSION: $45.00 Per Guest
Paranormal seminar and investigation of the historic Baker Mansion headed by the JABA Paranormal Investigations team. The evening will begin with a brief overview of the team's investigation equipment, and from there guests will be split into groups to search the mansion for its many restless spirits! Recent independent investigators to the mansion have encountered numerous instances of unexplained phenomena, so now is your chance to see who (or what) still resides in this Victorian-era home!
This event is limited to 25 guests overall, and the $45.00 admission cost covers both the equipment seminar and following investigation of the mansion. All proceeds benefit the preservation mission of the Baker Mansion History Museum and Blair County Historical Society!
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 18, 8:00 PM-11:00 PM
ADMISSION: $45.00 Per Guest
Paranormal seminar and investigation of the historic Baker Mansion headed by the JABA Paranormal Investigations team. The evening will begin with a brief overview of the team's investigation equipment, and from there guests will be split into groups to search the mansion for its many restless spirits! Recent independent investigators to the mansion have encountered numerous instances of unexplained phenomena, so now is your chance to see who (or what) still resides in this Victorian-era home!
This event is limited to 25 guests overall, and the $45.00 admission cost covers both the equipment seminar and following investigation of the mansion. All proceeds benefit the preservation mission of the Baker Mansion History Museum and Blair County Historical Society!
Paranormal Encounters at the Baker Mansion Tickets:
the BLAIR COUNTY
heritage gala
LOCATION: Liberty Hall at the U.S. Hotel Tavern
DATE/TIME: Thursday, October 15, 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
ADMISSION: $50.00 For Singles, $90.00 For Couples, And $325.00 For Tables (8 Guests)
Join the Blair County Historical Society for the 2026 Blair County Heritage Gala! This grand event celebrates our community's past and present by honoring a select group of awardees who have gone above and beyond in preserving and/or promoting our area's rich history. This year's awardees will be announced on our social pages and additional news outlets.
Guests of this event will be treated to a lovely buffet-style dinner, with this year's menu consisting of House Salads with Dinner Rolls, Herb-Roasted Chicken Breast, Vegetable Medley, Red Skin Mashed Potatoes, and White Cake with Buttercream Icing. Additionally, guests will be able to enjoy a cash bar, silent auction, variety of raffle baskets, and a special ceremony recognizing our Pillars of the Community.
Doors open at 5:00 PM, and dinner will begin at 6:00 PM that evening.
DATE/TIME: Thursday, October 15, 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
ADMISSION: $50.00 For Singles, $90.00 For Couples, And $325.00 For Tables (8 Guests)
Join the Blair County Historical Society for the 2026 Blair County Heritage Gala! This grand event celebrates our community's past and present by honoring a select group of awardees who have gone above and beyond in preserving and/or promoting our area's rich history. This year's awardees will be announced on our social pages and additional news outlets.
Guests of this event will be treated to a lovely buffet-style dinner, with this year's menu consisting of House Salads with Dinner Rolls, Herb-Roasted Chicken Breast, Vegetable Medley, Red Skin Mashed Potatoes, and White Cake with Buttercream Icing. Additionally, guests will be able to enjoy a cash bar, silent auction, variety of raffle baskets, and a special ceremony recognizing our Pillars of the Community.
Doors open at 5:00 PM, and dinner will begin at 6:00 PM that evening.
2026 Blair County Heritage Gala Tickets:
HAUNTED LANTERN TOURS
OF BAKER MANSION
LOCATION: Baker Mansion History Museum
DATE/TIME: October 16, 17, 23, And 24, 7:00 PM-10:00 PM
ADMISSION: $5.00 Per Guest
Night-time lantern tours of the historic Baker Mansion that explore the home's haunted history and Blair County's paranormal folklore.
Each lantern tour lasts half an hour, and there will be six tours each evening from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Groups are limited to no more than 14 guests for each time slot. Guests are welcome to dress in costume for these tours, and there will be complimentary snacks and apple cider each evening.
Tickets TBA
NOTICE: Our lantern tours will feature fairly dim lighting throughout the mansion in order to maintain an eerie atmosphere. As such, guests should be prepared for relatively dark conditions throughout the mansion. Please be careful when navigating throughout the mansion each evening, especially when you reach each set of stairs.
Also, while these tours feature eerie environments and special effects, they are not designed to be overly scary. As such, children are more than welcome to come for these lantern tours. Due to the dark conditions and some jump-scare elements, though, we ask that guests refrain from bringing children younger than three years old.
DATE/TIME: October 16, 17, 23, And 24, 7:00 PM-10:00 PM
ADMISSION: $5.00 Per Guest
Night-time lantern tours of the historic Baker Mansion that explore the home's haunted history and Blair County's paranormal folklore.
Each lantern tour lasts half an hour, and there will be six tours each evening from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Groups are limited to no more than 14 guests for each time slot. Guests are welcome to dress in costume for these tours, and there will be complimentary snacks and apple cider each evening.
Tickets TBA
NOTICE: Our lantern tours will feature fairly dim lighting throughout the mansion in order to maintain an eerie atmosphere. As such, guests should be prepared for relatively dark conditions throughout the mansion. Please be careful when navigating throughout the mansion each evening, especially when you reach each set of stairs.
Also, while these tours feature eerie environments and special effects, they are not designed to be overly scary. As such, children are more than welcome to come for these lantern tours. Due to the dark conditions and some jump-scare elements, though, we ask that guests refrain from bringing children younger than three years old.
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS TOURS
AT THE MANSION
LOCATION: Baker Mansion History Museum
DATE/TIME: Friday, November 20 Through Sunday, December 20, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
ADMISSION: Standard Tour Admission Rates Apply
DATE/TIME: Friday, November 20 Through Sunday, December 20, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM
ADMISSION: Standard Tour Admission Rates Apply
HOLIDAY MUSIC NIGHTS
AT baker MANSION
LOCATION: Baker Mansion History Museum
DATE/TIME: Friday, December 11 And 18, 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
ADMISSION: $5.00 Per Guest
Live holiday music performances by local artists alongside homemade desserts and appearances by members of the Baker family (portrayed by living historians)! Admission will be paid at the door each evening.
DATE/TIME: Friday, December 11 And 18, 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
ADMISSION: $5.00 Per Guest
Live holiday music performances by local artists alongside homemade desserts and appearances by members of the Baker family (portrayed by living historians)! Admission will be paid at the door each evening.
