miners' memorial park

My friends took me here as a "thing you must do in McConellsville," and I really think it's cool! What a great tribute to regional history.

The next time you flip on a light switch, ponder for a moment how that electricity came to be.I first leaned about Big Muskie in a book called "Giant Earth Moving Equipment." The size of this largest dragline shovel in history was too much to visualize, so I made a point to visit the resting place of its bucket near McConnelsville, OH. To see the bucket in person, then to look at the vast reclaimed area that it once strip mined is enough to leave a person in awe. Big Muskie and Miners' Memorial Park aren't really near anything, so be prepared for a drive. While on the way there, think about the process of making electricity from mining coal to the finished product. On your way back home, think about the human and nature factor after you have seen the enormity of what man can conceptualize and accomplish. Then always appreciate this wonderful world that we live in.

Learned how the land once mined for coal is is reclaimed by the planting of trees, restoring the environment to what it once was.

It was easy to find after leaving The Wilds. The bucket was fun. The displays were interesting. It was a very pretty view over looking the ReCreated land with all the fall colors blazing.

If we would have known about this place we would have schedule a picnic in, to enjoy the beautiful day. We just happen by the place and stopped in on the way home. [Since there was family (husband's side) that worked in some coal mines] It was great stepping into the Big Bucket and seeing it up close. We took Route 78 back to I-77. The road was curvy but the smell was of pine. We looked at each other and said are we in Ohio? Some pretty scenery on the drive and some interesting old buildings along the way also.

Incredible views, beautiful park. Awesome to be able to stand inside Big Muske's bucket. Lots of visitors here on this day. Kids enjoyed it too. Not too far from McConnelsville.

This is a worthwhile stop if you are nearby, especially if you are on the way to the Wilds. Kids, history buffs, and fans of big machinery will enjoy it. It is a small park with a bucket bigger than two buses side-by-side. There is not much there to do besides stand in the bucket and read some of the informative placards nearby.Sadly I have been by four times to see this as people from out of town always want to go see the Big Muskie Bucket. Once would have been more than enough, trust me! However, it is definitely worth seeing ONCE, stop by and take a picture of yourself inside the bucket.

If you travel along I-77 in southern Ohio, you will see the brown "attraction" signs for the "Big Muskie Bucket" about 25 miles north of the West Virginia border. It's actually housed in what is called the Miner's Memorial Park. To get to the attraction, you have to drive along very twisty roads on Route 78 about 16 miles from I-77. The drive is actually pretty and fun - we saw several people on motorbikes obviously taking the road for the fun of driving it. If you are driving on State Route 78, you will also pass a small marker for the site of the crash of the airship Shenandoah during the 1920's.The Miner's Memorial is on what is obviously reclaimed strip mining land. They have reforested the land after removing the coal, and what has grown back is very nice. I'll let others comment on the environmental impact of the original mining and the success of the reclamation efforts.The strip mining was accomplished by an enormous crane-like machine that was over a football length long. The business end was a huge bucket that could scoop up chunks of land the size of a two-story house. You can't miss it as you drive along Route 78 - it's only 100 feet or so off the road and there is a convenient parking area.The Big Muskie was technically a "walking dragline" but looked like a gigantic crane. They took it out of service a few decades ago, and all that's left is the big bucket. They have it nicely landscaped with a staircase so you can get into it. Everyone there was taking pictures of their companions in or in front of it. During its years of operation, this bucket moved something like twice the amount of earth moved in the digging of the Panama Canal. They also have a kiosk with information about Big Muskie and the land reclamation efforts. It's nicely done and is obviously part of a PR effort by the local AEP power company. The views are very pretty, as is much of the surrounding countryside. There are very basic bathroom facilities, but we did not try them.I like roadside attractions, and this one is nice, but you would consider it something to see along the way rather than a destination in and of itself.

I've driven by this exit more than 100 times & finally planned a stop. The memorial is 16 miles west of the interstate on some of the prettiest rural highway (think Shenandoah Valley). A couple weeks earlier might have caught peak fall colors, but still a beautiful drive. The park is situated along a ridge overlooking a large valley. I was there at sunset & maybe someday I will try to catch it in the morning light. In addition to the view, the memorial is also impressive & well maintained. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to get out here!