Self-Guided Visit
Railroaders Memorial Museum admission
Tour the Pennsylvania Railroad heritage collection inside the 1882 Master Mechanics Building, the former home of the railroad's administrative offices and Test Department.
- Duration:
- 2 hr
Museum / Historical Site
Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum
Railroad-heritage museum in the 1882 Pennsylvania Railroad Master Mechanics Building, with a marketed ghost named 'Frank' and an annual ticketed haunted tour.
1300 Ninth Ave, Altoona, PA 16602
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
General museum admission; the seasonal 'Lafferty's Revenge' haunted tour is ticketed separately (about $10 in 2024).
Access
Wheelchair OK
Multi-floor brick museum building with elevator access; downtown Altoona setting near the railroad yards.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1882 · Pennsylvania Railroad Master Mechanics Building · Altoona Works railroad shops · PRR Test Department · Railroad labor history
Altoona was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The company laid out the city in 1849 as the operating base for its main line over the Allegheny ridge, and the Altoona Works grew into one of the largest railroad shop complexes in the world.
The Master Mechanics Building, at Ninth Avenue, went up in 1882 as part of that complex. It began as a two-story brick building housing administrative offices and the railroad's Test Department — the physical and chemical testing laboratories modeled on European railroad practice. A third story was added in 1886 to give the Test Department two full floors, and the building reached four stories by 1909.
The Railroaders Memorial Museum was founded to preserve the story of the workers who built and ran the Pennsylvania Railroad. Beginning in 1990 the Master Mechanics Building was renovated for museum use, and the museum relocated there with grand-opening ceremonies on April 25, 1998. Its collection interprets railroad labor, the Altoona shops, and the broader history of the line, including the nearby Horseshoe Curve.
Local accounts and the museum's own promotion describe the building's earlier service connected to the railroad workforce, including use tied to railroad infirmary and police functions in the shop district; the building's primary documented history is as the Master Mechanics offices and Test Department.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroaders_Memorial_Museum
- https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2024/10/railroaders-museum-offers-scares-with-flair/
- https://www.railroadcity.org/
Apparition reports (the ghost called 'Frank')Gift-shop items moved onto the floorFaint big-band music heard in the building
The Railroaders Memorial Museum is unusual among historic sites in that it has embraced its haunted reputation as part of its programming. Beginning in 2003, the museum started presenting the Master Mechanics Building as a haunted attraction, building Halloween tours around the stories that staff and visitors had collected.
The best-known figure in that lore is a ghost the staff call 'Frank,' described as being seen in various parts of the building. Other reports gathered over the years include gift-shop merchandise found moved from shelves onto the floor and faint big-band music heard in the quiet building. These accounts come largely from museum staff and the paranormal enthusiasts who have investigated the site, rather than from independent documentation.
The paranormal reality series Ghost Hunters filmed part of an episode inside the museum; the episode treated the haunting as inconclusive or fictional. Local ghost hunters later wrote a book arguing that the spirits of deceased railroad workers remain in the building.
Today the museum channels the reputation into 'Lafferty's Revenge: A Haunted Tour in Railroad City,' a roughly 40-minute ticketed evening tour offered on scheduled October dates. It is presented as seasonal entertainment grounded in the building's real history as a Pennsylvania Railroad workplace, not as a claim of verified haunting.
Notable Entities
'Frank' (museum's resident ghost)Reported spirits of former railroad workers
Media Appearances
- Ghost Hunters (television, 2004)
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Guided Tour Booking Required
Lafferty's Revenge — Haunted Tour in Railroad City
The museum's seasonal guided haunted tour through the historic building, running on scheduled October evenings (about 40 minutes; roughly $10 in 2024). Tickets are sold in advance through the museum's events page.
- Duration:
- 40 min
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum family-friendly?
The daytime railroad museum is family-friendly for all ages; the seasonal haunted tour leans toward older children and adults who want a few scares. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum?
General museum admission; the seasonal 'Lafferty's Revenge' haunted tour is ticketed separately (about $10 in 2024).
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Multi-floor brick museum building with elevator access; downtown Altoona setting near the railroad yards..