The Big Muskie bucket is located at Miner’s Memorial Park within Jesse Owens State Park near McConnelsville Ohio. It was part of the largest single bucket digging machine ever created.
The 220 cubic yard bucket could move 325 tons of dirt 2 city blocks away in a single bite. Each tooth on the bucket is 3 feet long and weighs 1,000 pounds.
When Big Muskie was put into service in 1969 the entire Morgan High School marching band stood in the bucket to mark the dedication. When mining in the area slowed Big Muskie was placed into retirement in 1991. Ten years went by until it’s 240 ton bucket, the size of a 12-car garage, got a second life as a tourist attraction here at Miner’s Memorial Park. The Big Muskie bucket is all that remains of the 27 million pound giant.
Over its 22 year lifespan Big Muskie removed twice the amount of earth that was moved during the original construction of the Panama Canal.
The surrounding land that was mined for its rich coal deposits was reclaimed, and is now a part of Jesse Owens State Park with 4 campgrounds, several small lakes and ponds, and Miner’s Memorial Park.
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