C.J. Moyna & Sons
Moving Mountains for the History of Earthmoving
With over 75 successful years under its belt, C.J. Moyna & Sons has established itself as one of the premier earthmoving companies in the Midwest. In addition to its present-day impact, the business — and particularly its owner, John Moyna — possess a deep appreciation for the history of earthmoving equipment.
Over the years, Moyna amassed a unique and sizable collection of heavy equipment, with over 50 historic models. And he decided to share this passion with the world with the creation of the C.J. Moyna Earthmoving Legacy Center. But how could this collection be presented in a way that both awed and educated visitors? And how could the center not only satisfy equipment buffs, but also pique the curiosity of everyday people and inspire future generations?
McCullough Creative dove headfirst into the challenge. We learned about the history of earthmoving, developed a story that would convey that narrative to the masses, and then designed the layout of the legacy center, as well as accompanying exhibits and graphics. Then we got to work bringing these ideas to life in our custom fabrication shop. Here is a look at how we put the wheels in motion and transformed an ambitious concept into an impressive reality:
The experience at the C.J. Moyna Earthmoving Center starts exactly where the industry did: These horses help illustrate the very beginnings of movable power and establish a point of comparison for the rest of the exhibit. By vividly showing what four horsepower looks like, visitors can understand the leaps that led to 400-horsepower machines in the decades that followed.
From the very start of the experience, visitors are introduced to the grit. Using a variety of substrates and techniques, we custom fabricated the front desk to resemble the steel wheels adorning early earthmoving machines.
Located in front of the show floor, the “Holt vs. Best” display showcases the intense personal rivalry that fueled the rapid evolution of earthmoving equipment in the early 1900s. The competition between Benjamin Holt and C.L. Best propelled early advances in machinery. The two would later join forces and form Caterpillar Equipment.
A timeline that wraps around the show floor visually reinforces the arrival of major earthmoving advancements. The timeline includes other significant inventions and landmark events, providing historical context that frames the evolution of humanity's ability to shape its surroundings.
More than 50 historic machines are displayed in the museum, giving visitors an up-close glimpse of the equipment that shaped the industry. The passion and expertise of John Moyna served as a crucial starting point, while our insights into traffic flow and story presentation helped refine the way the machines were displayed—collaboration at its finest.
Fresh off a visit to the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, Moyna believed the ceiling of the museum could tell its own story. We brought that vision to fruition, producing an intricate design on roughly 1,800 ceiling tiles. Upon installation, these tiles formed one large, cohesive image of earthmoving equipment in motion.
Since opening its doors, the legacy center has attracted tourists and garnered glowing praise from the community.
At its annual meeting in 2022, Clayton County Development Group awarded The Earthmoving Legacy Center with its "Attraction of the Year" honor. Moments before presenting the award to John and Doris Moyna, officials spoke about the passion that brought the project into existence.
“From childhood to adulthood, (John Moyna’s) dream was to explore how things worked, what made them operate, how to tear them apart and make them better … and to rebuild and preserve the history of earthmoving equipment.”
If you want to witness this awe-inspiring exhibit in all its glory, visit Elkader to see it in person. The Earthmoving Legacy Center is located at 24412 IA-13 and is open six days per week.