Make Your Next Adventure an Art Hunt in Altoona
Ready to shake off the cold and get back outside? Altoona has your next epic family outing idea!
As the weather warms up and the days get longer, it’s the perfect time to swap winter routines for something new. All across Altoona, you’ll find murals, sculptures, and larger-than-life surprises that can turn a simple outing into a full-on art hunt.
These colorful, creative stops are part of the Masterpieces of Altoona, and they make exploring with kids easy, flexible, and actually fun. It’s the kind of outing where you can move at your own pace, follow your curiosity, and enjoy a little fresh air along the way.
No tickets. No schedule. Just pick a few spots and go!
Start Small, Then See Where It Takes You
Begin your search at the Altoona Public Library, because you’ll get two stops in one.
Inside the library, there’s a rotating art display keeping things fresh, so every visit feels a little different. Step outside and you’ll spot the Leap into Learning statue, which is basically an open invitation for kids to climb, pose, and practice their froggy “ribbit.”
From there, head into Olde Town. Check out the A Day in Altoona mural and see its small details, plus the nearby Altus mural brings bold color and big personality to the block. It’s a great place to slow down, look closer, and let kids point out what they see first.
Expect the Unexpected
This is where things get even more fun! At Haines Park, the Mars 1 statue feels like it landed straight from another planet. Over at Ironwood Park, the Moai Dude statue is a huge, smiley figure—guaranteed to get some reactions! These are the kinds of stops that turn into favorite memories (and plenty of photos).
Then there’s the Where the Wild Things Are mural at Altoona City Hall, which turns a quick stop into a storytime moment that the kids will love.
And if you’re looking for a quieter spot, the Praying for Prey sculpture at the Enabling Garden gives you a moment to chill. It’s a nice balance to the more playful stops and a great reminder that every piece brings something different to the experience.
Mix in a Little Meaning
Not every stop is playful, but they all leave an impression.
At the Sam Wise Youth Complex, the Veterans Memorial A-7D Jet Display stands as a powerful reminder of service and sacrifice. It’s a meaningful stop that naturally opens the door for some thoughtful conversation. It also adds depth to your outing, giving kids a chance to connect what they’re seeing to real stories and history.
Make It a Game (Trust Us on This)
Want to keep the kids engaged the whole time? Turn it into a challenge!
- Who can spot the most colors?
- Which piece is the weirdest?
- Which one would you put in your backyard?
You can even add your own rules or create a mini scavenger hunt along the way. Suddenly, you’re not just walking around. You’re exploring together!
Your Map = Your Game Plan
We made this even easier with a Masterpieces of Altoona map that lays everything out for you. Hit a few stops or go for all of them, it’s completely up to you. You can plan ahead or just follow wherever the day takes you.
Here’s the best part: new pieces are being added all the time! That means every visit can feel a little different than the last, and there are always new hidden gems to discover. It’s an outing you can come back to again and again without it feeling the same.
Get Out and Go Find It
The Masterpieces of Altoona, brought to you by Altoona’s Arts & Culture Commission and Visit Altoona, give families a fresh way to explore without overthinking it. It’s simple, it’s active, and it gets everyone out enjoying the season.
So grab the kids, pick your first stop, and see where the day takes you!
Start exploring and check out the full map here.
