National Historic Landmark

Leap-the-Dips

Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania
Listed
March 15, 1991
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
91000229

About this property

Leap-The-Dips is a wooden roller coaster located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Built in 1902 by the Federal Construction Company and designed by E. Joy Morris, it is the oldest standing roller coaster in the world and believed to be the last surviving side-friction roller coaster of the figure-eight variety. Leap-the-Dips operated continuously until 1985, when it closed after falling into disrepair. A fundraising campaign led to its restoration, with refurbishment efforts beginning in 1997 and ending with a grand-reopening in 1999. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996 and received the Coaster Classic and Coaster Landmark awards from American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE).

Location

700 Park Ave.
Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania
40.47090, -78.39637

Categories

ENGINEERINGENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Leap-the-Dips

This page lists Leap-the-Dips. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Leap-the-Dips report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Altoona Armory
Industrial
0.9 mi
Llyswen Historic District
Modern
1.1 mi
Knickerbocker Historic District
Modern
1.4 mi
Baker Mansion
Industrial
1.5 mi
Allegheny Furnace
Industrial
1.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Leap-the-Dips listed on the National Register?

Leap-the-Dips was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 15, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Leap-the-Dips?

Leap-the-Dips is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Leap-the-Dips a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Leap-the-Dips has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Leap-the-Dips?

The period of significance for Leap-the-Dips is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Leap-the-Dips?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Leap-the-Dips will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Blair County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Blair County.

Explore BlairCounty ›

More historic places in Pennsylvania

Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.

View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Pennsylvania history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Pennsylvaniahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Leap-the-Dips will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report