Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. It does not sparkle like a diamond or glitter like gold, but some people are calling Nederland's Bucyrus-Erie 50-C historic steam shovel the crown jewel of the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal Exhibit. In fact, the bucket is covered by petrified grease, is rusty, and covered in a film of Ned dirt.

The Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the site of a gala celebration of the opening of the canal that connected two worlds, of the 48-mile stretch of land that saved shippers 9,000 miles of traveling around Cape Horn at the bottom of South America.

On Wednesday, October 8, Danny Martin, the excavator who was responsible for moving the steam shovel from a wetlands area in Gilpin County to the Nederland Mining Museum, will remove the bucket and pulley from the steam shovel and prepare it for a trip to the Mint Museum, where it will be the first piece of history to greet visitors to the display during the 100-year celebration of the opening.

The moving of the Bucyrus-Erie steam shovel was the subject of a Mega Movers episode, with Danny leading the way. Now he and local historian Glenna Carline will tell the shovel's story to dignitaries from all over the country, as well as diplomats from Panama's embassy.

Before they decide what to wear to the event, they have to make sure they can move the bucket, which will have to weigh in under 20,000 pounds, the limit which the freight elevator in the museum can handle. Danny drove his truck to Denver on Tuesday, the 7th,  to determine how much it weighs, so the bucket can be weighed. "My guess is it is about 10,000 to 12,000 pounds," says Danny. On Tuesday he planned to begin the disassembly on Wednesday.

"The shovel hasn't been run in three years," says Danny. "I have been restoring the engine and getting the machine ready for the trip."

A special exclusive transporter will be sent to pick up the bucket from Denver and deliver it to Charlotte. Once it arrives at the museum, the display team will take over.

Danny and Glenna are leaving for North Carolina on October 29th so they can be on a radio show with the Panamanian ambassador the next day.

Danny chuckles when he explains the bucket will shown as is within the pristine museum gallery.

"This bucket has not been removed since 1949," Danny says. "There is much preparation need to prepare it for travel. It has been insured for $100,000…just the bucket, not the whole steam shovel. That really says something about its value."

Danny spoke before the Nederland Board of Trustees on Tuesday night, explaining the mission. When Boulder County purchased the Nederland Mining Museum, the commissioners chose not to buy the shovel so it is still owned by the Nederland Area Historical Society, who has approved the moving of the machine.

The Bucyrus-Erie will be on display from November 1 to February 1, 1915, and then will return to its parking lot in Nederland.