The Kecksburg UFO Monument is located on a small grassy area with a large gravel parking area, in across from the local volunteer fire company building. There is a little store in one of the buildings, but it was not open when we were there (early morning). I've read that they have a nice variety of t-shirts for sale, and all the proceeds benefit the local fire company.
Looking down from the monument. There is plenty of parking here. The gift shop is in the long social hall to the left; enter at the door marked bard and ring the bell to be let in.
"It was late afternoon on December 9th 1965, when a large fireball was reported in the sky from Canada, as well as sections of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The bright aeriel object caused much excitement as it passed over the Pittsburgh and Greensburg area. At about 4:45 pm, the object, according to a number of observers, dropped slowly into a wooded ravine near the rural community of Kecksburg in Westmoreland County. Many observers thought an aircraft was on fire." - Stan Gordan, in an article for the Latrobe Bulletin in 1995 (full article below)
The incident brought a crowd of onlookers, while volunteer firemen searched the area. Military personnel arrived quickly. The state police fire marshall and other investigators took a Geiger counter to the area. When the fire marshall returned and asked what was found, he replied that "you better get your information from the army".
Firemen and state police helped block off roads, and shut down the area.
According to Stan Gordon's article, a military flat bed trailer arrived in the area, empty, and left, with a jeep escort, and a large bell shaped object on the trailer.
Reports were then spread that the item had been a meteorite, but those who had seen the item before it was removed described it as a large solid metallic object large enough for a man to stand in. "The first people on the scene said it was partly buried in the ground. It was made of metal, between 10 and 12 feet long, and generally shaped like an acorn. There were strange markings on a band near the bottom that resembled hieroglyphics." https://www.post-gazette.com/news/science/2015/12/06/50-years-later-the-Kecksburg-Westmoreland-County-UFO-is-identified-probably/stories/201512060146
Another eye witness states that it was not that large - only the size of two suitcases.
"Former Post-Gazette reporter Ernie Hoffman, 76, of Hempfield, was working the night shift in Greensburg when he and a photographer were sent to the scene. Mr. Hoffman arrived in time to see military men taking an object away on the back of a flatbed truck. But his account differs from some of the other witness recollections.
“It was not a 10- to 12-foot object,” he recalled. “It was small, the size of two suitcases.” Jerry Betters, a Pittsburgh jazz vocalist who died in 2007, told investigators it was larger than that, and the military truck carrying it had a white star on the door. He drew a picture of it and had it notarized.https://www.post-gazette.com/news/science/2015/12/06/50-years-later-the-Kecksburg-Westmoreland-County-UFO-is-identified-probably/stories/201512060146
In the 1990s, it was confirmed that an object removed from the woods that night in 1965 had been transported to Wright-Patterson Air Force base in Ohio. It was sealed up under special conditions inside that building. Where the object is now is unknown, but something was transported there from Kecksburg in 1965.
On 3:18 am in Canada, a Venus Probe, a soviet satellite named KOSMOS 96, re-entered the atmosphere, on the same day an item landed in Kecksburg. This does seem to be the most likely explanation of the item found, especially when considering the historical context of our relations with the Soviet Union, and the cold war, at this time.
However, there are many who do not believe the item looked like a satellite, and the spreading of misinformation (such as it being a meteorite) and documents being missing or not being consistent, lead to many alien based theories. The official statement is that the military was not in any way involved in the event, and yet many news reporters and by standers witnessed the military involvement that night.
In 1990 the tv show unsolved mysteries did a segment on the object that had landed in Kecksburg. The producers built a life sized replica, based on first hand accounts, to use in their filming. They left the prop behind. It was originally bolted to the top of Kecksburg's truck barn, and there it stood for 15 years.
On the 40th anniversary of the crash, in 2005, the town realized the "space acorn" could boost tourism. The old prop was brought down, repaired, repainted, and hoisted atop a pole on a hillside, lit by spotlights at night. The UFO store was opened across the street, in the fire companies social hall and bar.
"If we can make a few bucks on this and help pay for a $300,000 fire struck, that's what we are going to do" said Ron Struble, head of the fire companies UFO Committee.
He went on to say "We are trying to keep this thing so it doesn't turn into a wacko museum." The firefighters are nervous about their role as flying saucer boosters.
In 2008 the Space Acorn was invited to the towns Old Fashioned Days, which formerly was known for bed races and a burn out contest where cars were chained to a concrete pad and spun their wheels until they burned up their tires. But now it's a UFO event as well, inviting UFO experts to attend as well.
Eventually the town hopes to add a UFO themed restaurant as well.
No matter what you believe personally, the Kecksburg UFO festival and gift shop both benefit the local fire company, and the road side attraction does have an interesting story.
Or, as Ron summed it up, "I don't care if you're a believer or not. I don't care if it's ever solved. Just buy my shirts."
Well, if the government isn't being completely honest, I think we can trust the the head the of the fire departments UFO committee certainly isn't hiding anything.
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The Latrobe Bulletin December 2 1995
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The Kecksbug Movie
KECKSBURG MOVIE SCREENING & DISCUSSION
September 28, 2019
Westmoreland Historical Society
809 Forbes Trail Road
Greensburg, PA 15601-6548
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