John Deere Pavilion Celebrates Grand Reopening

MOLINE, Ill., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the John Deere Pavilion reopens to the public following a near total transformation of the visitor experience. The renovation coincides with the 15th anniversary of the Pavilion and the year-long celebration of the founding of John Deere's company 175 years ago. The new experience offers an up-close look at the company's global businesses and products, rich history and heritage, and solutions for the challenges of providing food and infrastructure to the world's growing population. Interactive displays, original artifacts, and a variety of media engage visitors in a fun and exciting learning environment for the whole family.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120215/CG53420)

"Today we reopen the doors to the John Deere Pavilion and offer the public a fresh, exciting, and entertaining experience where guests can learn more about how we are all linked to the land," said Sam Allen, chairman and chief executive officer of Deere & Company. "The Pavilion will provide a superb destination for customers, employees, and fans to celebrate their personal connection to John Deere."

See, Hear, and Feel the New Experience

Although the Pavilion building remains the same, the look and feel inside the facility has changed dramatically. Several machines are displayed in their working environments so visitors unfamiliar with the products can see what they do on farmsites and worksites around the world. Through videos guests will hear owners and operators of these machines describe a typical workday and how John Deere equipment helps them work and shape the land.

Visitors will also see previous concept machines explored by the company, now on display for the first time at the Pavilion. These machines were produced to test and evaluate new technologies and designs, elements of which are now used in current products.

Machine simulators give visitors a chance to try their skills at operating an excavator or crawler dozer in a fun learning environment that looks, sounds, and feels very much like the actual machines when they are in operation. The simulators are the same ones used to train professional operators.

Other New Exhibit Details

• The Legacy of John Deere – profiles company decision makers from the past 175-years, examines the company's corporate culture, and tracks Deere & Company highlights in relation to significant events in American history.
• Our Growing Planet – examines big challenges facing a growing global population and showcases ways John Deere is working to help address these challenges.
• Innovative Solutions – highlights break-through designs and innovative technologies that John Deere has introduced to help customers make their businesses more productive, efficient, and profitable.
• John Deere Discovery Zone - provides educational, interactive, and hands-on educational opportunities for kids of all ages to explore where food comes from, the need for roads and bridges, and taking care of the environment.
• Cotton to Blue Jeans – weaves the story of cotton from seed to shelf where the end product is the ever-popular blue jean. It is the first in a series of rotating exhibits.

One carry-over from the previous Pavilion line-up is the film, "Anthem: A Song of the Land." This awe-inspiring film, presented in high-definition, salutes the dedicated work of farm families worldwide.

Following an eight-week closure, the facility reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with several special guests and local officials in attendance.

To best accommodate guests the first week of operation, the John Deere Pavilion is extending its hours to 7:00 p.m. Feb. 15 – 17. 

The John Deere Pavilion is a free attraction and is open year-round. The John Deere Store, located adjacent to the Pavilion, stocks a large selection of the latest officially-licensed John Deere products including clothing, toys, books and collectibles. For more information about the John Deere Pavilion, Store and other John Deere Attractions, visit www.JohnDeereAttractions.com or visit us on Facebook.

About the John Deere Pavilion

Located along the shores of the Mississippi River near the company's original Moline plow factory, the John Deere Pavilion has attracted more than 2.7 million guests from around the world since it opened in 1997. The 14,000-square-foot, glass- and steel-enclosed, structure and features a wide variety of fun and informative hands-on exhibits about Deere & Company's global businesses and products, its rich history and heritage, and how it's helping meet the challenges of a growing global population. The John Deere Pavilion is a free attraction and is open to the public year-round. For more information call 309-765-1000, or visit us online at www.johndeereattractions.com or on Facebook.

SOURCE John Deere Pavilion