As you drive down State Route 78 in southeastern Ohio, you can’t miss a gigantic bucket perched by the roadside – an object that seems large enough to be handled only by a giant. This impressive sight is located at Miner’s Memorial Park in McConnelsville, where you’ll find the remnants of the largest single-bucket digging apparatus ever constructed. Known as the Big Muskie Bucket, this incredible piece of engineering gives visitors a glimpse into Ohio’s rich history of coal mining. Experiencing the sheer scale of this 230-ton empty bucket in person is an unforgettable experience and truly worth the journey. It’s arguably the best roadside attraction in the state and deserves a spot at the top of your travel itinerary (pun very much intended).
The Big Muskie was part of a colossal machine that loomed 22 stories high, designed to strip off layers of soil and rock. This process revealed valuable high-sulfur coal beneath the surface.
Located along East State Route 78 in McConnelsville, Ohio 43756, you can discover a remarkable piece of industrial history. For those traveling on Interstate 77, simply take Exit 25 to reach it.
In 1966, the Central Ohio Coal Company acquired this enormous machine to satisfy the increasing need for coal during the peak of America’s coal industry. Big Muskie was constructed directly at the site and the assembly process spanned two years.
When filled to capacity, the bucket’s weight exceeded one million pounds. According to Atlas Obscura, the energy needed to run this massive machine was equivalent to what over 27,000 households would use in a year.
The magnitude of the bucket is truly astonishing. The chain links affixed to it are roughly the size of a young child, highlighting the colossal scale of this equipment.
The bucket is large enough to fit two Greyhound buses side by side, as well as an entire marching band. If you look close enough at the exhibits at the park, you’ll find photographic proof.
The machine was used until the early 1990s, when the coal mining industry rapidly declined. In 1999, the machine was disassembled.
What’s left today is a giant bucket.
Miner’s Memorial Park serves as a tribute to Ohio’s coal mining history and the Central Ohio Coal Company, aiming to inform visitors about the region’s rich past in the coal industry.
Don’t forget to pack your camera! To capture the full scale of this gigantic structure, you’ll want to hop into the bucket for a unique photo opportunity.
Miner’s Memorial Park can be found at E State Route 78, McConnelsville, OH 43756. Have you visited this remarkable spot before? It might just be Ohio’s top roadside attraction. If you’ve been, we’d love to see your pictures and hear your stories!