Caterpillar

October 15, 2025

We stopped by the Caterpillar Visitors Center in Peoria, IL. They have one of their mining trucks on display as well as other various types of equipment. The museum guides you through the history of the company as well as the manufactoring processes. Interactive exhibits allow you to tackle a project by selecting the right equipment for the job and a simulator to try your hand at operating equipment. 

When we were there, the museum was manned by retired Caterpillar employees. Plus, they had leftover backpacks from the Peoria Days festival that were filled with Caterpillar stuff. Pretty cool!

$65K tires last 3 to 6 months

Hauls 4 tons at a time

100th anniversary gray color

Where Are We Going Next?

Spoons and More Spoons

October 14, 2025

We enjoy visiting quirky museums, though we're not sure the owners would necessarily agree to the description as quirky! We stopped by the Mississippi Spoon Gallery in Davenport, IA. The collection started with 127 spoons inherited from great grandma, and now is almost 38,000 in number with around 10,000 on display.  The collection is quite varied, from souvenirs to antiques, and the owners are keen to share their passion.

Souvenir spoons

Who's your favorite character?

Cloissone

Gallery overview

One of the smallest spoons with handpainted scene

10k plated crown collection

Spoon from China

Miniature needlepoint handles

Grimm's fairy tale spoons

plique-a-jour (think miniature stained glass)

Eqyptian spoons with mummy and a baby moses

Where Are We Going Next?