Preserving the history of earthmovers

The USA is considered the home of modern earthmoving, with this legacy kept alive at a centre devoted to preserving the stories, machines, and pioneering spirit that shaped the industry into what it is today.

- Scott Lidster Australian Earth Training

The Earthmoving Legacy Center (ELC) is a 38,000 square foot facility dedicated to showcasing the rich history of earthmoving equipment.

The collection traces the evolution of the industry from the 1880s through to the 1940s, with a focus on the roots and development of manufacturer Caterpillar.

The idea came from prominent heavy industry figure John Moyna wanting to share his private collection with others - whether they were machinery tragics, history buffs, or school kids curious about how the industry was built.

Along the way, the project brought together contributions from other collectors, helping create one of the best displays of early track-type tractors you're likely to see anywhere, with machinery from the Holt Manufacturing Company, C.L. Best Tractor Company, and Caterpillar.

Inside, you'll find around 50 pieces of equipment on display, ranging from horse-drawn earthmoving gear through to machines from the 1940s era. It's not a museum full of old iron either - it's a look back at the innovation, grit and people that helped shape the earthmoving industry into what it is today.

The first time I heard about the ELC was a few years ago when a couple of mates organised a trip over to the US. They had all sorts of experiences on the hit list - the Onaway Speedway truck rodeo, private earthmoving collections, and plenty of other machinery-related chaos.

As fate would have it, one of the boys had a Facebook post pop up on his phone a couple of days before they flew out. It was about the ELC in Elkader, Iowa. The boys decided to add it to the itinerary.

What came from that visit wasn't a walk through some phenomenal earthmoving history. They also met many of the key people who helped build the place, including John Moyna himself, of Mobile Track Solutions and CJ Moyna & Sons fame.