While Kansas is not necessarily known for being the source of great adventures, it does have a few things to do – and within a short driving distance from Springfield. Take the Big Brutus electric shovel, for instance.
Okay, so maybe you’re thinking “I’ve seen earth moving equipment before, what’s the big deal?”
That’s just it… Big Brutus is not just big. At a height of 160 feet, or 16 stories tall, the Bucyrus Erie model 1850B is the largest electric shovel in the world. Photos simply cannot do it justice.
A Fun Thing to Do with Your Kids
Two hours is all it takes to get from Springfield to the Big Brutus Visitors Center and museum in West Mineral, Kansas, just north of Joplin. And, it’s really worth the trip, especially if you’re looking for something fun to do with your kids.
Admission to get an up-close look at Big Brutus is $8 for adults, $7.50 for senior citizens, and $5 for children ages 6 – 12. Children 5 and under get in free.
This 11 million pound behemoth has a 150-foot long boom, travels a whopping .22 miles per hour and, in 1962 costs $6.5 million. The shovel dipper can hold 150 tons, or three railroad cars, of material. The best part is that visitors can go up inside Big Brutus’ cavernous interior, take a look at what made it tick, and sit in the “driver’s” seat.
The retired electric shovel was dedicated as a museum and memorial to the mining heritage of southeast Kansas in 1985. Big Brutus had another moment in the spotlight when, in 1987, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers named it a Regional Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.
Other Things to See and Do While Visiting Big Brutus
While Big Brutus definitely steals the show, there are other interesting things to see while you’re there. The museum, for instance, is home to the “Little Giant”, the world’s smallest working replica of an early electric mining shovel – sort of a miniature version of Big Brutus. Purchased by the Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company in 1946 from a Kansas hobbyist, the 700-pound replica took more than 11 years to build.
The visitor’s center hosts a picnic area and campgrounds that includes 10 spaces with water & electrical hook-ups, a dump station and a number of primitive camping areas. Recreation vehicle parking is available at $15 a day.
Big Brutus is open all year with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Their hours vary by season, so give them a call at 620-827-6177 before you make the trip.
Big Brutus is just a short distance north of Joplin, near West Mineral, KS. It’s located 6 miles west of the K7 and K102 junction, a quarter mile south.
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