Farming for coal in mining history unearths some amazing machinery. On a hosted visit by Explore Crawford County to Southeast Kansas with a group of other bloggers that were part of the Midwest Travel Network, we found some fascinating equipment.

In Southeast Kansas Cherokee County, the largest, and only preserved Page 618 Walking Dragline in the U.S. is located. Only one of 18 Page 618 Walking Draglines ever built, this is one of two Page 618s still in existence. Soon it will be accessible when the dragline is relocated at the end of fall to the junction of U.S. 69 and Kansas 47. According to Chris Wilson, of marketing and communications for Explore Crawford County, the dragline will become part of the Miners Hall Museum of Franklin, Kan.

The dragline will be reassembled and become an open-air educational exhibit. The company that used the drag line, the Wilkinson Coal Co., was a mining company that operated in Cherokee County, and was started by William Wilkinson, an immigrant from Pelton Fell, England. Wilkinson began work in mines at the age of 10.

The earliest coal mining in southeast Kansas was about 1850. Mining was done mostly by residents digging coal for home use, with only a small commercial output. It wasn’t until the big shovels came in that mining became big business in Crawford and Cherokee counties. The first steam shovel was developed in 1876 by Hodges and Armit, and the largest example of one of these big shovels is Big Brutus. Located at the Big Brutus Museum, another amazing piece of history is a coal strike drilling well made by William Perry.  He built the rig in 1931 outside his home in Mulberry, Kan. Pulling his drill behind his Model A pickup with a large tank of water, he drilled for coal by himself. He also did this for other coal companies.

Outside of the museum on the walkway to Big Brutus are several other antique equipment editions. From a horse drawn grader from the 1800s, to a prospect drill that was used to determine if there was cola below and how deep it was. Caterpillar engines, a Caterpillar Road grader, Austin-Western shovel, Adams Leaning wheel grader, a hammer drill and a brick forge are pieces of equipment that add history to the museum.

But the big attraction is Big Brutus. It was the most obvious reminder of the mining history in southeast Kansas. This 11-million-pound electric coal shovel is located at MLWA #44. Big Brutus is the world’s largest surviving electric shovel. The shovel is located at its last dig. The shovel was used by the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Co., of Pittsburg, Kan. (P & M). They purchased Big Brutus, a Bucyrus Erie model 1850B from the Bucyrus Erie Co., of Milwaukee, in 1962. The shovel cost $6.5 million.

Brutus was used to remove the dirt and soil above the coal, called overburden. They operated Big Brutus until 1974. The pits that Brutus dug today have been filled with water and are fishing lakes. The P & M donated 10,000 acres of land surrounding Big Brutus to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

Today you can visit Brutus and sit up in his operator chair. The museum also has other mining history to enjoy as well. This piece of machinery is a tribute to the mining history of southeast Kansas. At the museum they offer a variety of events.  On their site they share, “Throughout the year, we offer a variety of festivals, concerts, and educational programs that are fun for the whole family. From our annual Big Brutus Festival, featuring food, music, and craft vendors, to our educational workshops that explore the history and engineering of the Big Brutus mining shovel, there’s something for everyone.

“Our events are designed to provide visitors with an immersive and engaging experience, whether you’re a history buff, a music lover, or simply looking for a fun day out with the family. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the site, learn from experts, and connect with other visitors who share your interests.”

For more information, log onto their website at https://bigbrutus.org.

Find your mining story in southeast Kansas, there is a lot to see and do. I didn’t make it to all the mining museums and need to go back to learn all the immigrant history. This area of southeast Kansas is filled with Route 66 history, mining stories, and much more to draw you in!

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