Coal Transitions: An Ecosystem Restoration and Cultural History Tour of Ohio’s Coal Country

Program Overview

As part of our Summer Field Trip Series, this EPN event will feature a tour of ecosystem restoration and cultural preservation in historically coal producing areas of eastern Ohio. In the late 1800's, Perry County, Ohio was known to have the largest working coal mines in the world. In 1969, Muskingum County, Ohio became home to the world’s largest drag line for extracting coal, the 240-feet tall “Big Muskie,” which moved more than 483 million cubic yards of rock and earth before it was shut down in 1991.¹ Though reductions in coal production and consumption, which are occurring unevenly around the world, including in eastern Ohio, are driving a wide variety of social, economic, political, and environmental impacts. There is an urgent need to coordinate academic and policy work focused on coal transitions and foster mutual understanding and sharing of insights from diverse transition experiences.

Here in Ohio, these ecosystem restoration and cultural preservation strategies are coordinated through a diverse network of local, state, and regional environmental professionals and organizations, pointing the way for our region’s approach to coal transitions. In Southeast Ohio, Little Cities of Black Diamonds refers to a region of 72 small towns that share aspects of a rich regional story tied to national history by the genesis of the American labor movement, contributions of ethnically and culturally diverse immigrants, and resilience alongside the restoration of natural resources in a mixed hardwood forest ecosystem.²

Join the EPN, in partnership with the Global Coal Transitions Research Network, to expand your network and gather hands-on experience and knowledge at the following learning locations:

• Ecosystem restoration and wildlife management at The Wilds.
• Cultural and coal extraction history at the Miner's Memorial Park in Jesse Owens State Park and eat lunch in Big Muskie Bucket.
• Learn about the community and economic development strategies facilitated by the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council (overview presentation linked here).
• Experience Robinson’s Cave where labor workers and organizers held meetings that led to the formation of the United Mine Workers of America.

¹ Ohio Department of Natural Resources (2024). Miner's Memorial Park & Big Muskie's Bucket, Historical Site #38.

²  Little Cities of Black Diamonds, "Three Stories of National Significance." (n.d.) link here.

Agenda

This agenda is subject to change in lead up to July 19^th. Light breakfast, boxed lunches, snacks and water will be provided throughout the day. 

7:30 a.m. Arrive, park and check-in at Ohio State’s 4-H Center. Coffee and light breakfast will be provided (participants are requested to bring their own reusable and sealable coffee containers). 

8:15 a.m. Departure from Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center.

10:00 a.m. Arrive at The Wilds. Genelle Uhrig, M.S., director of ecology, The Wilds, addresses the historic transformation of the 10,000-acre site from its coal-mined past into its present landscape, including an overview of recent mining reclamation and ecosystem restoration activities there.  

12:00 p.m. Arrive at the Miner's Memorial Park in Jesse Owens State Park. Staff from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources provide a history of the site and the infamous 220 cubic-yard, 240-ton Big Muskie Bucket used to excavate 483 million cubic yards of rock and earth. Catered boxed lunches served. Group photo inside of the world’s largest bucket!  

2:20 p.m. Arrive in Shawnee, Ohio. Tyler McDaniel, president, Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council and Cheryl Blosser, historian, Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council meet with participants and answer questions about the community’s history and provide an overview of community development strategies in southern Perry County.  

3:30 p.m. Explore regional historical markers and attractions, including Robinson’s Cave, a natural cave where labor workers and organizers held meetings that led to the formation of the United Mine Workers of America. 

5:00 p.m. Return to the 4-H Center, Columbus.

Speakers

Genelle Uhrig, director of ecology, The Wilds

Ms. Uhrig is a Conservation Biologist with 8 years of experience in field ecology and conservation genetics, specializing in non-invasive genetic studies utilizing scat and environmental DNA (eDNA) for species and individual ID, and parentage analyses. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University and a Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Ms. Uhrig has worked with a variety of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species and currently works with native species reintroduction efforts at The Wilds, including Eastern hellbenders and the federally threatened, state endangered American burying beetle. In addition to working with native Ohio wildlife species, Ms. Uhrig also oversees restoration efforts at The Wilds

Jeff Large, naturalist supervisor, Hocking Hills State Park

Jeff Large is the naturalist supervisor at Hocking Hills State Park. He went to school at Hocking College and earned a degree in Fisheries management and aquaculture science. Jeff has been a naturalist for five years, three as a supervisor at Hocking. Jeff worked for the State of Washington as a hatchery specialist before becoming a naturalist at the state of Ohio.

Tyler McDaniel, president, Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council

Tyler McDaniel is a historian of Southeast Ohio human history, a lifelong resident of Hocking County, and an Ohio University graduate specializing in Human Geography. Tyler is a type 1 diabetic and after receiving his diagnosis in early 2015, altered his career path to focus on his first passion, regional history. Since doing so Tyler has worked with the Southeast Ohio History Center and the Hocking County Historical Society and Museum. Since summer 2019, Tyler has been a part of the Little Cities of Black Diamonds Council, where he began managing their social media and is now one of their resident historians and president of the board. 

Additional Information 

We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone. If you have a disability and require accommodations to fully participate in this activity, please reach out to Callia Téllez (tellez.13@osu.edu). Requests made five business days in advance will generally allow us to provide seamless access. However, we will make every effort to meet requests made after this time frame. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs. 

Masks are optional for all event attendees at this event, in accordance with Ohio State’s Safe and Healthy Protocols as of this date. In-person attendees will be expected to follow Ohio State protocols regarding the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. More health and safety information available on this Personal Safety Practices page.