A John Deere Publication
The most remarkable part of the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum may be its openness: the doors welcome everyone, and admission is free. Visit Tuesday through Saturday, 9am-5pm.
Agriculture, Education September 01, 2026
John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum
Experience the heritage that built an industry.
Long before it became a museum, the brick building on Westfield Avenue in Waterloo, Iowa, hummed with ideas being forged into machines. There, in what was once the center of engineering, testing, and prototyping, John Deere's earliest workhorses came to life.
Today, the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum serves as both guardian and storyteller of that legacy. Since opening in 2015, it has welcomed more than 300,000 visitors who trace the evolution from a steel plow to modern machines. Some come for the iconic green and yellow, others for rare artifacts that highlight Deere's long history.
Some pieces feel legendary, like the replica Froelich Traction Engine built in 1937 for Deere's 100th anniversary. The original 1892 model—credited as the first gasoline powered tractor to move forward and backward—reshaped the industry.
The museum isn't a shrine—it's an invitation. Visitors feel real horsepower at a steel plow, kids dive into interactive exhibits, and farmers trade memories beside the Model D built there from 1923 to 1953.
"The museum, although younger than the company's 189 years, plays an important role in interpreting John Deere';s commitment to innovation and the community of Waterloo and beyond," says Brandon Jens, manager of John Deere attractions and historic sites. And its impact stretches beyond the exhibits. A 5K run/walk launched in 2023 raises funds for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, and in 2024 the museum earned the Outstanding Heritage Area Site award from Silos & Smokestacks for its leadership in preserving agricultural history.
The John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum is more than a tour stop—it's where the past and present meet, and where the first Deere tractor factory continues to shape new generations. It all started in that building, and its legacy still lives there. ‡
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