The Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) will be opening a new building at the National Construction Equipment Museum in Bowling Green, Ohio.
A new, 20,000-sq.-ft. structure, which will be dedicated on Sept. 19, is designed to preserve and display major pieces from the museum’s collection of more than 220 antique construction machines and vehicles. According to HCEA, a vaulted ceiling allows for shovel and crane booms to be raised while a spacious heated floor provides ample access for viewing exhibits.
The new building will replace a 7,000-sq.-ft. exhibit area in an older structure.
HCEA broke ground on the new building in 2023, with Clouse Construction Corp. – a corporate member of HCEA – placing the first steel on-site in 2024. The major construction was completed this spring.
The building, which cost $2 million, was fully funded through donations. Ken Taylor, president of Ohio Cat who’s a corporate member of HCEA, led the donations effort, which culminated in a $500,000 matching funds drive.
“The HCEA wishes to thank Mr. Taylor and the hundreds of other donors to the project,” HCEA says in a written statement. “Additional funds are being raised for future improvements inside the building, which will include office and archives space and an educational center. All of this will be funded in advance.”
Related: A walk through history at HCEA Expo
