Bristol in Morgan County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Big Muskie's Bucket

— Let's Get Historic —

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 31, 2025

1. Big Muskie's Bucket Marker

Inscription. The Miner's Memorial Park is a monument to the achievements of American Electric Power (AEP) and its subsidiary Central Ohio Coal Company. One of the main attractions of this memorial is "Big Muskie's Bucket."

"Big Muskie" was the largest single-bucket digging machine ever created. Because of the massive size of the machine, Big Muskie had to be built on site. Starting in 1967, more than 300 rail-cars and 250 trucks hauled the necessary pieces to Muskingum Mine. It took a team of engineers more than two years to erect the machine. When completed, the massive machine stood 240-feet tall.

The Wall of Honor showcases past and present employees of Central Ohio Coal Company, the AEP subsidiary that operated the Big Muskie.

Erected by Ohio Department Of Natural Resources. (Marker Number Site 38.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1967.

Location. 39° 41.955′ N, 81° 43.867′ W. Marker is in Bristol, Ohio, in Morgan County. It is at the intersection of Ohio Route 78 and Unionville Road, on the right when traveling west on Ohio Route 78. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4470 OH-78, McConnelsville OH 43756, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Turning Coal To Power (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Big Muskie (a few steps from this marker); Shovels, Draglines And Mining Equipment (within shouting distance of this marker); Reclamation (within shouting distance of this marker); History, Geology and Coal (within shouting distance of this marker); Big Muskie / Coal Mining In Ohio (within shouting distance of this marker); Ronald V. Crews Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Reclaiming The Land (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bristol.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Big Muskie (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 31, 2025

2. Big Muskie's Bucket Marker

Big Muskie's Bucket image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, August 31, 2025

3. Big Muskie's Bucket

Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.