Big Brutus

Great history, very impressive machine and a great stop off for everyone. It's a place you don't expect to have such a good time at

I knew this thing was going to be big but it wasn't until I spotted it soaring over the treeline that I understood. Oh, and it's a little below grade. Big brutus is a Bucyrus-Erie model 1850B electric shovel. Yes, electric. Massive powerlines would be fed into this monster so that it could clear "overburden" and make it possible for other, smaller devices to mine the coal. At 160 feet high and weighing 11 million pounds, the draw makes 15,000 horsepower and could lift 150 tons of coal. It is therefore the largest existing electric shovel on the planet.Open for climbing (the boom is since closed because of insurance limitations), you can go inside the operator's cabin, walk around the interior body and take selfies in the massive shovel or next to one of the huge crawler tracks. Look out over the lake in front of it - Big Brutus cleared all of that in its heyday before it finally shut down due to environmental concerns.The attached museum has other mementoes telling the story of local mining and there is a movie that shows the machine in action.[Review 19773 overall - 40 in Kansas - 745 of 2023.]

This is an amazing piece of machinery! A lot of history behind it. Very interesting and very cool how many people come from other countries.

A must see! This big ole boy actually helped build this area! The shovel is ginormous! You have to see it to believe it but if you travel around and take a vantage of the pets than you appreciate southeast Kansas... I know it's a little, but it is beautiful and it's on way.

Baffled by the low star reviews.... Big Brutus and the museum are a treasure chest of information and history!To get close enough to snap a good picture of Brutus you need to pay an $8 admission fee. A small price to pay as I'm sure the insurance alone to enable visitors to climb up into the giant machine is a pretty penny. Also included in the fee is a self-guided your. You are given a piece of paper that describes vital mechanisms in detail that match up to corresponding numbers throughout the inside and outside of the machine. I suggest wandering through the museum after going outside to see Brutus. They have ice cold air conditioning, lots of great pictures from the mining area and a video of Brutus in action. Good way to cool off before hitting the road again. It looks like the property is able to accommodate RVs. Parking lot is gravel but very spacious. Also has restrooms, snacks and souvenirs available.

You drove all the way out here to see a giant scooper, you get a giant scooper. To those who're disappointed you can't climb up the boom, the story behind that is as riveting as anything else about this piece (check the Wikipedia article for the details, but long story short -- someone tried to base jump off this big boy, and it didn't end well...) The self-guided tour works quite well during COVID, and yes, you might need some courage for heights in places climbing into this behemoth. Let's be real though -- you're here for pictures of yourself sized up next to this big thing, and you've got plenty of opportunity for them -- We got shots in the bucket, in the operator's seat, next to the treads... don't go by yourself so you can have a friend get those shots that get you standing right next to Big Brutus (or vice versa!) in order to get the best perspective shots.

Amazing feat of human ingenuity. I was in Wichita on business for 2 weeks and figured I'd kill a weekend day and headed to go see this marvel colleagues were suggesting I see while in Kansas. West Mineral was about 3 hours away so it made a perfect day trip. The wow factor starts literally miles away when you see the top of the crane looming over the distant skyline. As you approach you get the real feel of insignificance in our human might, this monster from yesteryear sports buckets that are big enough to hold pick up trucks without thought. There is an eclectic assortment of old machinery that surrounds Big Brutus in the yard, with a decent explanation of the coal mining process in Kansas. This beast is a representative of the strip mining business that once thrived in the area. I highly recommend bringing the kids, a lunch and your camera! The staff is helpful and accommodating, and it certainly is one of the neat attractions in the US.

Mechanical marvel. Nice staff, lots of stories. No crowds very laid back. Not over priced.

Great place to take kids or grandkids!! Especially if they like earthmoving equipment. Has a good museum as well.

Visited yesterday as it was on our 8 Wonders of Kansas bucket list! What a behemoth! We were surprised it was 16 stories high amidst the kansas prairie as a reminder of the mining industry that was present in the early 70's. The museum was interesting and included a movie. It was handicap accessible except for climbing up the stairs onto the platforms. There were plenty picnic tables and a covered pavilion. There was also camping and RV facilities, inc showers and a small pond for kayaking!