Kecksburg, Pennsylvania

Kecksburg is a small unincorporated community in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It is located along Pennsylvania Route 982 in a heavily wooded area about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Elevation is 1,209 feet.

On December 9, 1965 a large, brilliant fireball was seen by thousands in at least six states and Ontario, Canada. It streaked over the Detroit, Michigan/Windsor, Ontario area, dropped reported metal debris over Michigan and northern Ohio, and caused sonic booms in western Pennsylvania. The fireball landed in the woods just outside Kecksburg and was reportedly acorn shaped. Some speculated that it was a UFO, however the United States government officially stated that it was just a meteor. (Main article: Kecksburg UFO incident)

A large bell-shaped metallic object made "Unsolved Mysteries" to be used as a model for a story that they did on the incident. After the story aired, the show donated the model to the town, and it was placed upon a three legged wooden pedestal at the local fire department. The model was taken indoors for a time, however it is now back outside on a new metal pedestal lit with spot lights.

ee also

* Kecksburg UFO incident