Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum celebrates one of the country's oldest transportation systems. It's no surprise then that the museum itself has moved from one location to another. It first opened in 1980, but soon outgrew its original space, and in 1998 took over a former PRR master mechanics building. Here, visitors immerse themselves in the rich history of the rail.

• Size: The museum's collection stretches over three floors of exhibits, plus a movie theater

• Eye Catcher: A replica of the K4-1361—known as the "official steam locomotive of Pennsylvania"—stands in the lobby. The original is slated for full restoration by museum staff.

• Permanent Mainstay: How to Run a Railroad, which features model trains and teaches visitors how difficult it was to keep a network of trains running smoothly in the era preceding satellite communications

• Don't Miss: Maintenance Division, which honors the workers who built and maintained the tracks, and dealt with disaster on the rails

• Hands-On Experiments: At Transportation Division, visitors can attempt to master the fast-paced skill of track switching to see first-hand why the brakeman's job was the most treacherous

• Pro Tip: Though snacks are available in the gift shop, there is no food service on site; visitors can, however, bring their own food and enjoy a picnic on the museum's grounds

• Special Programs: In the summer, the museum hosts live local bands in its [Alive@5 concert series]9http://www.railroadcity.com/alive5-concerts/)

• Leave Your Mark: If someone you know was a railroad worker, you can have them included in the museum's database, The Call Board. The database is available online and in the museum.