But the connection between the two goes
beyond the physical buildings, said Kathryn
Spitznagle, project manager for Caterpillar.
Without the museum, the visitors center would
not have been built.
“
In that regard they go hand-in-hand, which
is why the opening ceremony will be a shared
experience. We’ve done a lot of coordinating
with the museum. But otherwise, each will be
unique to visitors, which we believe will help
make the entire Museum Square experience a
destination point for tourists,” she said.
Caterpillar is targeting an audience that lives
within a two- to four-hour drive from Peoria,
families that don’t want to travel far for a week-
end getaway but want unique experiences. At
the same time, Spitznagle said, the fact Caterpil-
lar is so world-renowned means the Visitors
Center will like see frequent guests from abroad.
“
We will have something for almost every-
body here. The adults and older children alike
will be fascinated by the big pieces of Caterpillar
equipment, the theatre with its vibrating seats,
the machinery simulators,” she said.
Perhaps the most unique part of the Visitors
Center will be the theatre. It is housed in the bed
of a full-size replica of a Caterpillar 797 min-
ing truck, the largest truck in the world. The
seats will vibrate because the audience will be
made to feel it is being driven down into a mine,
which will be shown along with the truck’s
driver on the movie screen.
Caterpillar also plans to have special events
through the year. One it has announced already
is that Jeff Burton, the driver of the Caterpillar
NASCAR vehicle, will come to the center in
December.
Spitznagle said it has been enjoyable watching
the Visitors Center come together, particularly
in recent weeks as exhibits that are built off-site
are brought in and installed.
“
We’re going to be ready,” she said.
Admission to the Caterpillar Visitors Center
will be $7 for adults and $6 for those 55 and
older, for group tours of 20 or more people, vet-
erans and active military. Children 12 and under
will be admitted free with an adult.
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