Hollidaysburg Courthouse #15251

The Story

This is a clear view of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, in a summer landscape of sunshine taken from Chimney Rocks overlook. Some historic canal era houses from the 1830s line the foreground in front of the old canal basin, today filled in with railroad tracks. Being such a clear day, you can see out to the beginning of the beautiful blue Allegheny mountains beyond to where Altoona lies in the distance.

Not many towns have such a great place to see themselves in the landscape from above as Chimney Rocks overlook does. This natural rock outcropping is just across from Hollidaysburg. In fact, to have such an overlook above any town is rather unusual. The rocks are at the top of a nearby high ridge and can be seen from anywhere in Hollidaysburg. This picture is taken from the highest of two prime viewing places.

Through time, many people have climbed to the top for this view of the astounding scenery of Blair County laid out before them. In recent years, the Chimney Rocks overview area was bought by the boro of Hollidaysburg and developed into a park for ease of access together with a picnic area and restrooms. You can easily walk to the lower view from the parking area, but the upper view is still a pretty good uphill hike.

From this high view of Hollidaysburg, any detail in town could be easily seen. The entire valley all the way back to Altoona is laid out with the Allegheny mountains in blue in the background. It has been this particularly dramatic landscape scenery that has made the climb a worthy one for thousands of people through time. For a long time, people have been coming here for a look, and the Native Americans did too before white settlers ever showed up.

Above is the full panorama of the Hollidaysburg summer view with the courthouse steeple standing high in the center and the entire central part of the old historic town laid out before you. Also, click on the following link to learn more about Chimney Rocks Park where these pictures were created.

Location: Chimney Rocks overlook above Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania in Blair County. Picture and story © Andrew Dierks