Discover the Legacy of Wopsononock Mountain
High above and west of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Wopsononock Mountain became the site of a thriving late-nineteenth-century resort, featuring a grand mountaintop hotel, numerous cottages, an observation tower, and the narrow-gauge Wopsy Railroad that transported visitors to the summit from Juniata.
This site presents a curated collection of photographs, maps, and artifacts from the late 1800s to early 1900s, preserving the story of a place that briefly flourished as a regional destination and left lasting traces on the mountain landscape.
Historic Collection
Discover rich stories and detailed explorations of Wopsononock Mountain’s past through captivating photos and expert commentary.
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A Brief History of the Wopsononock Resort & Railroad
Significant development of Wopsononock Mountain—part of the Allegheny Mountains west of Altoona,…
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Altoona & Wopsononock Railroad Locomotive, circa 1891
This evocative photograph from around 1891 shows a narrow-gauge steam locomotive of…
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Formal Opening of the Altoona & Wopsononock Railroad, Altoona Tribune, 1891
Date: July 2, 1891Source: Altoona Tribune, Page 1 This article reports on…
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Wopsononock Hotel, Front View
A rare historic photograph showing the grand front façade of the Wopsononock…
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Road To Lookout Photo, Circa 1890
The photograph shows an early roadway leading up Wopsy Lookout Road (Wopsononock…
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Out Broadway to Wopsononock Lookout, 1905
From Views of Altoona, L.H.Nelson Co., 1905. Looking toward Point Lookout on…
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Maps of Wopsononock
Historic maps, like old photographs, offer a clear view into the past.…
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When Wopsononock Was a Summer Resort, James Shafer, 1959
James Shafer, a longtime Altoona Mirror photographer with a deep personal interest…
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Wopsononock Hotel & Narrow-gauge Train, Circa 1891-1903
Shown here is a Real Photo Postcard image of the Wopsononock Hotel…
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“#30 Wopsononock Train”, 1913
This Wopsy Railroad Real Photo Post Card (RPPC) was printed in limited…
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Altoona, Clearfield and Northern Locomotive, 1892
From The Alley Popper: A History of the Pittsburgh & Susquehanna and…
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Altoona, Clearfield and Northern Railroad Locomotive, 1893
This Wopsy Railroad mixed-use train was published in Art Work of Blair…
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Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Ebensburg & Eastern Locomotive, Late 1890s
From The Alley Popper: A History of the Pittsburgh & Susquehanna and…
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1899 Wopsy Railroad & Resort Pamphlet
This 1899 Wopsononock Time Table & Tourist’s Guide was reprinted for the…
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When Was the Hotel Established?
When I began researching the Wopsononock Resort & Railroad in the late…
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Hotel Dining Room, 1889-1903
These photos from negatives from the Altoona Public Library show the elegant…