Construction equipment museum aims to expand

The National Construction Equipment Museum is located in Bowling Green, Ohio. Photo: P&Q Staff

The Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) is in the final phases of raising funds for a new National Construction Equipment Museum building.

Plans for the new structure in Bowling Green, Ohio, call for a 20,000-sq.-ft. purpose-built museum with a high-clearance, vaulted ceiling in the main hall. The design will allow large machines such as cranes and shovels to be properly displayed, HCEA says, with all machines set up in a manner where they appear ready to work.

According to HCEA, the new building will include new office space and an upgraded archives facility. The current office and archives building will be converted into a meeting and learning center.

The new museum will also be built ready to expand to accommodate smaller machines, the association says. HCEA is looking to break ground on the museum project in September 2022.

HCEA is currently doing a fundraiser push to bring the project to fruition. As part of the push, Ken Taylor, Ohio Cat owner, pledges to match the next $500,000 donated to the construction of the new museum.

Those interested in donating can do so through HCEA’s website. Also, checks and money orders can be mailed to Historical Construction Equipment Association, 16623 Liberty Hi Rd., Bowling Green, Ohio 43402.

Additionally, HCEA has options for larger donations such as required minimum distributions and planned giving.

According to HCEA, the National Construction Equipment Museum is the world’s only public museum dedicated to the restoration and preservation of construction equipment. The museum has no more indoor space for the proper storage and display of many of the rare antique machines in its collection of more than 170 machines.