Our Legacy

Mining machines driving on job site
Mining machines driving on job site

Caterpillar Company History

Enjoy the ingenious machines from our rich heritage, and more importantly, the people who founded and built the company one breakthrough at a time. Beginning with Benjamin Holt and C. L. Best, the people of Caterpillar have always been – and continue to be – extraordinary.

Our History

Over the last century we’ve grown with our customers. We’ve changed together as the world has changed: creating, building, problem solving, innovating, testing, servicing and improving. When customers choose our products, services and solutions today, they also gain nearly 100 years of experience and expertise. 

Explore our History
Historic collage with timeline
Historic collage with timeline

A Glimpse into Our Corporate Archives

Our Corporate Archives team has the important role of telling, preserving and showcasing Caterpillar’s history and the role our equipment, customers and people have played in projects around the world.  

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Cases in Caterpillar's Archives Facility
Cases in Caterpillar's Archives Facility

View Our History by the Decades

1800s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s

Featured from our Heritage Collection

Each week we open our vault to share stories of our people and products over the last 95+ years. Check out our most recent features here, or view the collection.

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Engineers Week

2023 – “Old Betsy,” Caterpillar’s first diesel prototype engine, forever changed the company yet was almost lost to history. Corporate Archives Manager Lee Fosburgh and host Rusty Dunn tell us the story of one of Caterpillar’s most valuable historical artifacts.

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Old Betsy Diesel Engine, 1930.
Old Betsy Diesel Engine, 1930.

This ain’t my first rodeo

1895 – The Archives received this wonderful donation that tells the story of “our” first energy transition from horsepower to steam power in the late 1890s. This Best Manufacturing Company steam tractor was one of the first to replace horses in the mining industry in Northern California. Best is recognized as one of Caterpillar’s predecessor companies.

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Steam Traction Engines - Working Views, n.d.
Steam Traction Engines - Working Views, n.d.

Welding Month

1943 – During the month of April we celebrate the work of welders, who have critical played a part in Caterpillar’s nearly 100-year history. This unknown Caterpillar employee served as a welder and as a member of the 497th Engineers Heavy Shop Company during World War II.

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WWII - 497th Engineers Heavy Shop Company, 1942-1945.
WWII - 497th Engineers Heavy Shop Company, 1942-1945.

ACMOC 

Visit the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club website to learn more about the organization, connect with other members, and find out more about upcoming events and meetings.

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