PEORIA, Ill. – Looking to beat the heat this weekend? Bring the kids to the Caterpillar Visitors Center and Museum.
Caterpillar’s Director of Community Relations, Henry Vicary, says it’s not your average museum.
Your visit begins with a virtual ride in the bed of a two-a-half-story CAT 797F Mining Truck…next, you can design your own Caterpillar machine, and then test your skills on a simulator to see what it’s like to be in the driver’s seat of a giant earth-mover.
Vicary says the Visitors Center has its own “regulars” who bring their mom and dad down every week to see the big machines.
“It’s really neat to see the smile on their face. And, for children seeing it (a big rig) for the first time, it’s just so incredible to walk up to a big 950 Wheel Loader or a 320 Excavator, and be able to get in the cab…look around and see what it looks like to be an operator of one of those big machines,” Vicary says.
The Caterpillar Visitors Center and Museum will host around 450,000 visitors this year, Vicary says.
In addition to the giant machines, you can learn about Caterpillar’s history that began in Peoria with a special historical exhibit that’s now on display.
“We have two very cool Caterpillar products from the 1920s and 30s that are now on displays from our Caterpillar Archives Division,” Vicary says.
Kids 12 and under always get in free, and adult admission to the Caterpillar Visitors Center and Museum is only $7, with discounts available online.
The CAT Visitors Center and Museum and CAT Merchandise Center are open Tuesday-Saturday from 10-5.
To learn more, click HERE.
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