News Summary
The National Construction Equipment Museum near Bowling Green, Ohio, will host the International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition, attracting global machinery enthusiasts. The event will feature historic operational equipment, educational activities, and community involvement, highlighting construction heritage. Attendees can engage with vintage machinery, participate in restoration projects, and enjoy family-friendly attractions. The museum aims to inspire future generations while improving its facilities and collections.
Bowling Green, Ohio – Major International Construction Equipment Event Announced for 2025
The National Construction Equipment Museum, located just outside Bowling Green, Ohio, has announced it will host its International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition from September 18-20, 2025. This event is expected to draw visitors and machinery enthusiasts from around the globe to showcase historic and operational construction equipment.
Overview of the Event and Its Significance
The exposition at the museum is notable for featuring operating equipment rather than static displays, offering attendees the chance to see cranes, shovels, dozers, and even a steam-powered rock crusher in action. Many machines on exhibit date back over a century, including horse-drawn road graders and some of the earliest diesel-powered equipment. The event provides a rare opportunity for visitors to observe historic machinery functioning as they did when first introduced.
Historical and Educational Focus
The National Construction Equipment Museum is operated by the Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA), a nonprofit organization founded in 1986. The museum stands as a tribute to the machines that helped build America, with collections spanning from the early 1900s through to the 1970s. It actively promotes preservation and education, aiming to inspire younger generations to appreciate construction history.
Many visitors come from countries such as Sweden, Germany, England, and Australia, highlighting the event’s international appeal. The exposition has become a family-friendly experience, with attractions like a sand pile with a crane and a kids’ gravel screening pit. Vendors also sell model toys, vintage literature, and rare collectibles, adding to the event’s festive atmosphere.
Activities and Participation
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own vintage machinery to display or operate, fostering a community of machinery enthusiasts. The museum’s volunteers, approximately 15 local members with decades of experience, assist in running the event and the museum year-round. They also participate in weekly restoration projects, including restoring a 1920s Buckeye trencher capable of digging 12 to 15 feet deep.
Ongoing and Future Improvements
The museum receives donations of equipment, with a dedicated acquisition committee evaluating each contribution to ensure relevance to the collection. Due to space limitations, the museum is constructing a new 200-by-100-foot steel building that will feature a heated floor. This new facility will improve display capacity and provide a better educational environment, enhancing visitor experiences.
Community Involvement and Future Goals
While the museum continues to grow, organizers emphasize the importance of increasing involvement among young people. They encourage community participation to maintain the museum’s mission of preservation and education for future generations. As the event approaches, the museum continues to prepare its extensive collection of historic machinery for public display and operation.
Additional Information
More details about the HCEA and the upcoming International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition can be accessed through the organization’s website. The event promises to highlight the heritage of construction technology and the machines that shaped infrastructure across decades.
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Author: STAFF HERE WASHINGTON DC
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