Huntingdon County Railroad History Exhibits, Pennsylvania

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Historic rail siteHistorical society open Wednesdays 10 am to 4 pm or by appointment

Huntingdon County's railroad history lives in a handful of local places, led by the Huntingdon County Historical Society, which is reported to run a transportation museum in the Hunt Railroad Tower alongside its research library and Victorian house museum in Huntingdon.

  • Railroad reached Huntingdon in 1850
  • Tracks ran down Allegheny Street
  • Hunt Railroad Tower museum
  • Historical Society open Wednesdays
  • County founded in 1787

Huntingdon County Railroad History Exhibits at a glance

Hours
Historical Society: Wednesday 10 am to 4 pm or by appointment; call for Hunt Tower hours
Admission
Not posted; call (814) 643-5449
Seasonal events
Free Museum Day, History and Heritage Roundtable History Fair
Best for
Local and railroad history fans exploring the county
Best ages
School age and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Huntingdon County Railroad History Exhibits? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Huntingdon.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

When the tracks ran down Allegheny Street

The railroad arrived in Huntingdon in 1850, and a historical marker in town records a striking detail: the tracks were laid right down the middle of Allegheny Street. From that start, rail lines shaped the county, including the coal and narrow gauge railroads of the Broad Top region to the south.

Today that history is kept by local volunteers. The Huntingdon County Historical Society, based in the William McMurtrie House at 106 4th Street, keeps a research library, a Victorian house museum and an exhibit gallery, and a local rail history page reports that the society runs a transportation museum in the Hunt Railroad Tower with archives on the East Broad Top, the Huntingdon and Broad Top, the DVRR and Amtrak. The county's History and Heritage Roundtable brings these groups together, and the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum in Robertsdale covers the coal and rail story of the Broad Top area. Confirm current tower hours with the society before you go.

Where to find the county's rail stories

Start at the Historical Society on 4th Street, open Wednesdays from 10 am to 4 pm or by appointment, where the McMurtrie House, the 1887 Little House and the exhibit gallery host programs through the year. Ask there about visiting the transportation museum in the Hunt Railroad Tower. In town, look for the Pennsylvania Railroad Artifacts historical marker, and for a bigger outing, the East Broad Top Railroad and the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum are both in the county.

Don’t miss

  1. Transportation Museum at the Hunt Railroad TowerReported to be run by the Historical Society, with archives covering the EBT, the Huntingdon and Broad Top, the DVRR and Amtrak.
  2. Pennsylvania Railroad Artifacts historical markerMarks the 1850 arrival of the railroad, when tracks ran down the middle of Allegheny Street.

Pair history with a real train

The Historical Society's exhibits and archives suit older kids and adults best. For younger children, combine a short stop in Huntingdon with a visit to the East Broad Top Railroad or the Rockhill Trolley Museum, both about 18 miles away. Look out for county events too: Free Museum Day on September 29, 2026 opened participating museums from 9 am to 4 pm at no charge.

Plan your visit: tips for Huntingdon County Railroad History Exhibits

  • Visit the Historical Society on a Wednesday, or call (814) 643-5449 to set an appointment.
  • Ask the society about access to the transportation museum in the Hunt Railroad Tower.
  • Watch for Free Museum Day, when participating county museums open at no charge.
  • Pair a Huntingdon stop with the East Broad Top Railroad about 18 miles away.

Volunteers across the county

The Huntingdon County Historical Society and the other groups in the county's History and Heritage Roundtable keep these collections going, from research libraries to small museums. You can help by visiting, joining the society, attending its programs, or volunteering. Contact the society at (814) 643-5449 or hchsmail@gmail.com.

Rail day trips from Huntingdon

The East Broad Top Railroad and Rockhill Trolley Museum are both about 18 miles away in Rockhill Furnace, and the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona is about 21 miles. See every Pennsylvania train museum for more ideas.

Every train museum in Pennsylvania

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Picturing trains rolling right down the middle of Allegheny Street, I wonder how people climbed aboard straight from the road. Those big steps are exactly Rally's problem in our book: his short corgi legs cannot manage the train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. My mom loved that bit of the story. You can find more gentle train stories on our train books for toddlers page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Huntingdon County Railroad History Exhibits?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Huntingdon County railroad history: 20 questions answered

Where can I see railroad history in Huntingdon County?

Start with the Huntingdon County Historical Society at 106 4th Street in Huntingdon, which is reported to run a transportation museum in the Hunt Railroad Tower. In town, the Pennsylvania Railroad Artifacts marker recalls the 1850 arrival of the railroad. The East Broad Top Railroad and the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum are also in the county.

What is the Transportation Museum at the Hunt Railroad Tower?

A local rail history page reports that the Huntingdon County Historical Society operates a transportation museum at the Hunt Railroad Tower, with archives on the East Broad Top, the Huntingdon and Broad Top, the DVRR and Amtrak. Hours are not posted online, so call the society at (814) 643-5449 before going.

When did the railroad come to Huntingdon?

The railroad reached Huntingdon in 1850, according to the Pennsylvania Railroad Artifacts historical marker in town. When it arrived, its tracks were laid down the middle of Allegheny Street, a detail the marker highlights for visitors walking through downtown Huntingdon.

What are the Huntingdon County Historical Society hours?

As of October 2026, the Huntingdon County Historical Society is open Wednesdays from 10 am to 4 pm, or by appointment. It is in the William McMurtrie House at 106 4th Street, Huntingdon. Call (814) 643-5449 or email hchsmail@gmail.com to arrange a visit on another day.

What is in the Huntingdon County Historical Society building?

The society occupies the William McMurtrie House, which holds an active historical and genealogical research library and a Victorian house museum. The 1887 Little House sits on the grounds, and an adjacent exhibit gallery hosts public programs and exhibits through the year.

How much does it cost to visit the Huntingdon County Historical Society?

Admission prices are not posted online. Call (814) 643-5449 to ask about fees for the house museum, exhibit gallery or transportation museum. On Free Museum Day, held September 29, 2026, participating county museums were open from 9 am to 4 pm at no charge.

Does the Historical Society have railroad archives?

A local rail history page says the Huntingdon County Historical Society keeps archives for the East Broad Top, the Huntingdon and Broad Top, the DVRR and Amtrak. The society also runs a research library at the McMurtrie House. Contact it at hchsmail@gmail.com before a research visit to check what is available.

Where is the Pennsylvania Railroad Artifacts historical marker?

The Pennsylvania Railroad Artifacts historical marker is in Huntingdon, Huntingdon County. It explains that when the railroad came to town in 1850, its tracks ran down the middle of Allegheny Street. The Historical Marker Database lists it if you want exact directions before your visit.

Is the East Broad Top Railroad in Huntingdon County?

Yes. The East Broad Top Railroad is in Huntingdon County, about 18 miles from Huntingdon in Rockhill Furnace. A county history directory describes it as the oldest and most complete narrow gauge railroad in North America, running original equipment on its original right of way. It has its own page on this site.

What is the Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum?

The Broad Top Area Coal Miners Museum in Robertsdale explores the coal mining and railroad history of the Broad Top region, which covers parts of Huntingdon, Bedford and Fulton counties. It is a good companion stop for anyone interested in how coal and railroads grew together in the area.

Can you ride a train in Huntingdon County?

The Historical Society does not offer rides, but the county has rail attractions. The East Broad Top Railroad and the Rockhill Trolley Museum, both in Rockhill Furnace about 18 miles from Huntingdon, have their own pages on this site with ride details. Check their websites for current schedules.

Is Huntingdon County railroad history good for kids?

The Historical Society's library and exhibits suit older kids and adults. Younger children will have more fun pairing a short stop in Huntingdon with a ride at the East Broad Top Railroad or Rockhill Trolley Museum nearby. County events such as the History Fair add more family friendly options.

What is the Huntingdon County History and Heritage Roundtable?

The Roundtable is made up of representatives from local historical organizations who share and preserve the history and heritage of Huntingdon County, established in 1787. Its website, huntingdoncountyhistory.com, works like a passport to the county's historic sites and lists community events.

When is the Huntingdon County History Fair?

In 2026 the Huntingdon County History and Heritage Roundtable held a History Fair on Saturday, June 13 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Riverside Park Pavilion, with displays from its member organizations. Check huntingdoncountyhistory.com for the next date.

What is Free Museum Day in Huntingdon County?

Free Museum Day lets visitors tour participating museums in the county without charge. In 2026 it was held on September 29 from 9 am to 4 pm. Watch the Roundtable's calendar and the county visitors bureau event list for the next one, and plan a route that includes rail history stops.

Is the Huntingdon County Historical Society wheelchair accessible?

Accessibility details are not posted online. Historic buildings like the McMurtrie House and a railroad tower can have stairs. Call (814) 643-5449 ahead of time to ask which spaces are accessible and whether arrangements can be made.

Where should I park for the Huntingdon County Historical Society?

The society does not list parking details online. It is at 106 4th Street in Huntingdon, at GPS coordinates 40.484016, -78.010688. Call (814) 643-5449 for parking advice, especially if you are coming with a group or for a program.

How can I volunteer with Huntingdon County history groups?

The Huntingdon County Historical Society and other Roundtable groups rely on volunteers for research, exhibits and events. Contact the society at (814) 643-5449 or hchsmail@gmail.com, or reach the Roundtable at huntingdoncountyhistory@gmail.com to find a group that matches your interest in railroad history.

How old is Huntingdon County?

Huntingdon County was established on September 20, 1787, and has had three courthouses since its creation. The railroad came much later, in 1850, and the county's history groups cover both its early years and its railroad era through libraries, house museums and exhibits.

What train museums are near Huntingdon, Pennsylvania?

The East Broad Top Railroad and Rockhill Trolley Museum are about 18 miles away, the Everett Railroad and Altoona Works exhibits about 20 miles, and the Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve about 21 miles. Gallitzin Tunnels Park and Museum is about 28 miles away.

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Kelsey Cecil
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