111 Years of
Innovation
at the Show

A LOOK BACK AT CONEXPO-CON/AGG

CONEXPO History:
through the Decades

Before films had sound, before traffic lights existed, before stainless steel was even invented, the first CONEXPO, known then as the Road Show, was held, marking a new era in construction.

The Beginning

The first CONEXPO, known then as the Road Show, was held in Columbus, Ohio, in 1909. To put it in context: that was the same year Theodore Roosevelt left office, the Orville brothers sold the world’s first military plane, and Albert Einstein worked on theoretical physics.

Modern construction as we know it was in its infancy. Year after year, decade after decade, the Road Show continued to expand, revolutionizing the construction industry. And Caterpillar grew right alongside the show.

In 1926, the newly formed Caterpillar Tractor Co exhibited for the first time, along with 295 equipment manufacturers in Chicago’s famous Coliseum.

Very Rare: This is the only photo of the Cat® exhibit at the 1926 Road Show and the only known photo that features all five tractors in the company’s first product line together

The Interstate Era

In 1957, the Construction Industry Manufacturers Association took over the Road Show, which continued to evolve into what we now know as CONEXPO/CON-AGG. Caterpillar had the largest exhibit and it included nine track-type tractors, six-rubber tired tractors, three traxcavators, two motor graders, 10 engines and a variety of attachments.

The show had new reach: global. Cat customers came from around 20 different countries – including Japan, Belgium, Haiti, France, Sweden, Chile and West Indies.

CONEXPO ca. 1969

Viva Las Vegas

In the 1970s, a new trade show, Concrete and Aggregates Show (Con/Agg) gained a following. The two shows combined for the first ever CONEXPO-CON/AGG held in 1996 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the show’s lasting home and the place where now nearly 150,000 people attend CONEXPO-CON/AGG every three years.

TODAY & ONWARD

Now, 111 years later, CONEXPO-CON/AGG remains the place to be to uncover the latest and greatest in construction machines and products. Ninety-four years since the first Cat exhibit, Caterpillar is pulling out all the stops to create an entirely new show experience that is — for the first time— outdoors, demonstrating the full power and capacity of the Cat line-up. Don’t miss a moment. This will be an experience that makes CONEXPO history.

CONEXPO 2020 RECAP

Whether you want to relive the action or discover what you missed, we have you covered with day-by-day replays of construction’s biggest show.

Take Me To Vegas

STAY CURRENT WITH ENEWS

We send industry knowledge, useful tips and special offers right to your inbox.

You’re here to get ideas to grow your business. Read on for machine insights and expert tips and tricks to get more out of every job.

111 Years of
Innovation
at the Show