An Update: The Caterpillar Heritage Center

In 2003, Caterpillar Inc. announced that a Caterpillar Heritage Museum would be included in the East Peoria downtown development featuring antique Caterpillar machines along with other historical elements representing Caterpillar's past. Several members of the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club (ACMOC) offered their restored antique Cat machines for the exhibit – many of which were featured by Caterpillar at the recent CONEXPO event in Las Vegas.

Now in 2011, those close to the project say little has been done on the museum itself since the overall development has been slow to progress. Members of ACMOC are still planning on pledging their machines for the museum once it is constructed. According to Bridget M. Young, Caterpillar Corporate Public Affairs, "As we understand it, the Heritage Museum project is on hold until funding is secured."

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