Caterpillar Center

On Monday morning, we headed downtown to check out the Caterpillar Visitor Center.  It seems appropriate since Peoria is Caterpillar headquarters, at least for a while longer.

Caterpillar is the world's largest construction and equipment manufacturer.

And the first thing you see when you get to the visitor center is a HUGE rock truck of some sort. 

We waited in line there, since that's where you enter.

Because that's where the theater is!  Inside the bed of the HUGE truck.

We found seats and settled in for a ten minute introductory video.

When is was over, we headed out to check out the machinery.

It's all hands on so the boys didn't waste any time!

Owen ran from one thing to another as fast as he could.

And smiled for me to take his picture often. :)

There are stairs leading up to each 'big rig'.

So the kids sat in every one and played on them.

I heard Miles talking to Owen saying, "You sit here, do this, move this, then push all the buttons you can find!"! Ha.

Miles also requested I take his photo while he was being 'run over'. 

And if I remember right, this photo op was his idea too.

Along with current equipment, there his a historic gallery.

With some of the older machines to see, and photos of some of the first.

And a section with a lot of hands on learning stations.

Examples of jobs Cat Equipment plays rolls in.  Including a train, which Owen has suddenly become obsessed with!

We did one more pass through the main equipment room...

And one more round on the simulators.

This was definitely a favorite activity.

Even Lexa tried.

And that wrapped up our morning at the Caterpillar Visitor Center!