Media Update - August 3, 2012

In less than 90 days, the Peoria Riverfront will be anchored by the new Caterpillar Visitors Center. As it opens on Saturday, October 20, the public will have its first opportunity to experience Caterpillar like never before.

Between now and the official opening, we will provide periodic updates to you on key features and upcoming activities related to the Caterpillar Visitors Center, opening day events and its impact on the Peoria region.

We hope you'll save the date, join us for the Grand Opening on October 20 and stay tuned for exciting updates between now and then.

Caterpillar Visitors Center Overview and Quick Facts

Each year, Caterpillar brings about 25,000 visitors to the region to visit the world headquarters, tour factories and operate machines. The Visitors Center is a continuation of the Caterpillar experience and will be open to anyone who wants to see how the work Caterpillar is doing today is building tomorrow's world.

Those who visit the 50,000-square-foot, interactive facility on the Peoria Riverfront will get to:

  • Hold on to their rumble seat in the bed of a life-size mining truck and take a virtual ride with Cat customers onto a number of remote job sites
  • Design their own piece of Cat equipment…and email it to themselves
  • Hop on a simulator and operate a dozer or an excavator
  • Sit in the seat of an antique tractor, pull the levers and feel what it was like to operate a Cat D8 tractor in the 1930s
  • Step into a 3-D world and be transported into the cab of a machine on a job site
  • Feel the excitement of the race track and get an up-close look at the Caterpillar NASCAR
  • Take a picture in front of a life-size mining truck that stands two stories tall
  • Settle into the cab of a dozer, a loader or a compactor and get the feel of the road.

    Additional Resources

    For more information on the Caterpillar Visitors Center, please go to www.caterpillar.com/visitors-center. High res images are available for downloading on the media information page.

    In addition, the Illinois Office of Tourism recently hosted a press conference at the site to highlight the role it will play in attracting tourists to the Peoria area and state. Video from the event is available on the media page.

    If you have questions or requests regarding the Caterpillar Visitors Center, please contact Bridget Young, media representative, at young_bridget_m@cat.com or 309-675-8463.

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    Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.

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