Altoona owes its existence to the Pennsylvania Railroad, which founded this Blair County town in 1849. In Altoona's early days, the economy depended on railroad building and repair shops, a history that is recounted at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, where interpretive exhibits and a film depict life in a town where virtually everyone was employed by the railroad. Located nine miles northeast of Altoona is the original site of an important Revolutionary War lead-mining outpost named Fort Roberdeau, upon which a replica of the old fort has been constructed, complete with a barracks, the officers' quarters, a miner's hut and a blacksmith shop. Another Altoona attraction not to be missed is Baker Mansion, the 1849 Greek Revival home of ironmaster Elias Baker, which features period rooms and historic exhibits. Sports fans can catch the Altoona Curve, the city's minor league baseball club, at Blair County Ballpark from April through September.