Billed as a once in a lifetime experience to celebrate 100 years of Caterpillar in the earthmoving industry, the Century of Caterpillar event drew thousands of enthusiasts to the small town of Elkador, Iowa including Awesome Earthmovers. The event was held by The Earthmoving Legacy Center located on the edge of Elkader which has close ties with CJ Moyna & Sons as well as Mobile Track Solutions, with the latter's manufacturing facility hosting the 3 day extravaganza. The itinerary over the 3 days included Live equipment demonstrations, Kids activities, restoration reveals from The Earthmoving Legacy Center, talks by industry experts and a wide array of static Cat equipment on display.
The Earthmoving Legacy Center in Elkader, Iowa, is a striking 38,000 square-foot museum and educational facility devoted to preserving the history and stories of how earthmoving equipment evolved over time. Its collection spans from the 1880s through to about the 1940s, with a strong emphasis on early track-type machinery from Holt, C.L. Best, and early Caterpillar models. It was founded by John Patrick Moyna, whose family operates C.J. Moyna & Sons, as a way to share a significant private collection and to invite other collectors to loan artifacts for public display.
Inside the center, visitors walk through galleries showcasing early implements, from horse-drawn graders and shovels to steam, gas, and early diesel machines, with interpretive displays tracing how mechanization transformed infrastructure and construction. The museum also serves as a training venue, public gathering space, and a focal point for anniversary events such as the Cat centennial celebrations.
Founded in 1925 through the merger of two fierce rivals, the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C.L. Best Tractor Company, Caterpillar’s story is one of innovation, endurance, and global impact. Benjamin Holt’s development of the continuous track in 1904 revolutionised off-road traction, with his machines earning the “Caterpillar” nickname after being seen crawling over rough ground.
C.L. Best, the son of a pioneering steam tractor manufacturer, built his own company around reliability and refinement. When post-war economic pressures forced the two to unite, the Caterpillar Tractor Co. was born and quickly became a dominant force in mechanised earthmoving. From building roads and farms in America’s heartland to supporting Allied forces in World War II, Caterpillar’s early decades cemented its reputation for rugged, dependable equipment capable of transforming landscapes and economies alike.
Over the following century, Caterpillar expanded from a tractor maker into a global industrial powerhouse. The 1950s and ’60s saw international growth and diversification into mining, energy, and construction equipment, while the 1980s introduced iconic yellow branding and advanced diesel engine technology. The company’s move to the Caterpillar Inc. name in 1986 reflected a broader scope, spanning power generation, financial services, and digital technology. In the 21st century, Caterpillar has embraced sustainability and automation, leading the way in autonomous haul trucks, hybrid and electric machines, and connected fleet management systems through its Cat Connect suite. Today, with more than 100,000 employees and operations in over 190 countries, Caterpillar continues to shape the world’s infrastructure, from massive mining operations and renewable-energy projects to smart construction sites. Its 2025 Centennial celebrations mark not only 100 years of remarkable history but also a renewed commitment to driving the industries that build the modern world.
The highlight of the Century of Caterpillar event were the live demonstrations, with a restored Cat 666 and 660 taking center stage. The Caterpillar 666 and 660 scrapers were among the most iconic earthmoving machines of their era, representing the height of Caterpillar’s heavy haul engineering in the 1960s and 70s. The massive Cat 666, a twin-engine scraper, was designed for high-production earthmoving on large infrastructure and mining projects, capable of shifting huge volumes at impressive speeds. The slightly smaller Cat 660 paired a powerful tractor unit with a 650 scraper pan, offering similar versatility with a lighter overall footprint. Together, these machines showcased Caterpillar’s dominance in scraper design, combining power, reliability, and productivity that set the benchmark for large-scale earthmoving. Unfortunately during the event there seemed to be issues with the 666 which was not able to work, and only drove around the field a number of times.
Another unique piece of Cat history in action at the show was a DD9 which was used to push load the 660 coupled with the 650 scraper pan and also to pose behind a static 666 for photo and video opportunities. The Caterpillar Double D9, often referred to as the DD9, was a remarkable experimental dozer concept developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s to tackle massive earthmoving and mining projects. Essentially two D9 tractors joined back-to-back with a shared hydraulic system, the DD9 featured dual engines delivering immense pushing power. Operated by a single driver from the front cab, it was designed to move huge volumes of material efficiently, particularly in ripping and heavy overburden removal. The concept began with Buster Peterson in 1965 ( Now Peterson Cat) who hooked up two D9G tractors back to back to create a 770hp unit operated by one man. Caterpillar bought the rights to the design in 1968 and later introduced models such as the DD9H and DD9L. Although it never entered full production due to its complexity and cost, the DD9 remains a legendary example of Caterpillar’s engineering ambition and innovation.
An impressive static display of dozens of antique and modern pieces of Cat equipment also graced indoor and outdoor exhibit areas. This included machinery specifically modified for pushing snow. Cat 657 scrapers old and new, a Cat 395 excavator, as well as some MTS scrapers. We also caught a glimpse of two Cat DW6s. The DW6 was nicknamed “Sugar baby” because when Caterpillar launched the DW6 (based on the D6 tractor, fitted with pneumatic tyres for higher speed), it quickly found a strong customer base in the sugarcane plantations of Florida, Louisiana, and the Caribbean.
The Caterpillar DW6 was one of Cat’s early motorized scrapers from the late 1940s and 1950s. It was designed to load, haul, and spread dirt, gravel, or other loose materials. The DW6 was typically paired with a towed scraper bowl (like the Cat No. 40 or No. 60) and used on construction sites, dams, highways, and airfield.
The Earthmoving Legacy Center staged an incredible and comprehensive event to mark the centenary of earthmoving’s most iconic manufacturer. None of us will be around in another 100 years for the next event but I suspect Caterpillar will!