Big Brutus, Inc.

Profile

Big Brutus, a Bucyrus Erie model 1850B, stands as a symbol of the mining heritage of Southeast Kansas. Once the largest electric shovel in the world, this towering giant is now a museum that pays tribute to the hardworking miners and the rich coal mining history in the region.

Constructed in 1962 by the Bucyrus Erie company for the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, Big Brutus served as a testament to human ingenuity and hard work. This colossal machine operated for over a decade, dramatically increasing the efficiency of coal mining in the region before retiring in 1974. However, its retirement marked a new beginning. In 1985, it was dedicated as a museum and memorial, signifying its enduring legacy. This dedication recognized Big Brutus as not just a symbol of the past, but as an eternal tribute to the mining heritage of Southeast Kansas and to the miners across the nation who toiled to support their families. In September 1987, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) designated Big Brutus a Regional Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, the tenth such designation since 1971. Adding to its accolades, Big Brutus was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, further cementing its significance in American industrial history.