Altoona

Founded in 1868, Altoona was once just a small town on the prairie�at least until the planes, trains, and automobiles came. Trains started crossing this town as planes made their way to the Altoona Airport, and the construction of Interstate 80 on Altoona�s north edge brought many tourists. The growing community has become known across the state as the �Entertainment Capital of Iowa.� Altoona is home to Adventureland Park, Iowa�s largest amusement park, as well as Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, and it hosted the state�s first municipal airport, Hanna Air Field. Various innovative individuals called this community home, such as Robert Townsend with his single-pass color printer and George Kurtzweil and his idea to grow the first acre of hybrid seed corn. Altoona�s history espouses a unique combination of small-town Iowa traditions and progressive thinkers that make it unforgettable.