Tui Snider - author & speaker

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New Headstone for Aurora, Texas UFO Crash Space Alien Grave

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50 Years before The Roswell Incident

The following is an adapted excerpt from Unexpected Texas, my quirky travel guide to offbeat and overlooked day trips near Dallas and Fort Worth: You’ve probably heard of the alleged spaceship crash from 1947 that took place in the desert of New Mexico. Known as “The Roswell Incident” this is arguably the most famous case in UFO history. Yet here in Texas, there exists an alleged spaceship crash – complete with an alien body – which took place 50 years earlier! So imagine how excited I was to find out that I live a hop, skip and jump from “the Roswell of Texas.”

One thing that makes this bizarre incident so fascinating is that the space alien’s body was buried by the townspeople. You can check it out for yourself by visiting the historic country graveyard in Aurora, Texas. (The city of Aurora is even erecting a Sculpture of the 1897 UFO Crash to commemorate this bizarre legend!)

Aurora, Texas historic graveyard (photo by Tui Snider)
Aurora, Texas historic graveyard (photo by Tui Snider)

Bizarre State Historical Marker

As a travel writer, I make a point to check out every State Historical Marker I come across. The one next the Aurora Cemetery gate, however, is the strangest one I’ve ever come across because it reads, in part, “This site is also well known because of the legend that a spaceship crashed nearby and the pilot, killed in the crash, was buried here.”  Check it out for yourself in the photo below:

Aurora, Texas historic graveyard with marker describing 1897 UFO crash! (photo by Tui Snider)
Aurora, Texas historic graveyard with marker describing 1897 UFO crash! (photo by Tui Snider)

Aurora, Texas UFO Crash of 1897

So what exactly happened here in Aurora, Texas back in 1897? Well, according to a newspaper article published by the Dallas News in April of 1897, a cigar-shaped object crashed in a farmer’s field, an alien body was found in the debris, and this little humanoid was buried in the local cemetery. For a more detailed account of this incident, along with a photo of the now-missing headstone, visit: 1897 UFO Crash & Alien Body – Is this the Roswell of Texas?

Me & author, Donna Latham, at the new grave marker for the 1897 UFO space alien in Aurora, Texas (photo by Larry Snider)
Me & author, Donna Latham, at the new grave marker for the 1897 UFO space alien in Aurora, Texas (photo by Larry Snider)

Space Alien’s Headstone Stolen!

When I first visited Aurora Cemetery in June of 2012, a hand-carved stone depicting a cigar-shaped craft marked the spot  where Texas settlers buried space alien’s charred body. Sadly, when I returned in March of 2013, the headstone was missing! All I found in its place was a rock the size of a baseball and some plastic flowers. Since then, a big, heavy rock accompanied by a wooden cross was placed in the graveyard to commemorate where “Ned” (as the locals have nicknamed the creature) is buried.

Oddly enough, this new marker is in a slightly different spot than the marker I first saw back in 2012. I’m not sure which spot is more accurate, however! I will have to dig back through my photos from 2012 to verify this. I will share photos here when I do!

The new grave marker for the 1897 UFO space alien in Aurora, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
The new grave marker for the 1897 UFO space alien in Aurora, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

The Great Texas Airship Mystery of 1897

Another intriguing aspect to this strange slice of history, is that the Aurora spaceship crash is just one of hundreds – yes, HUNDREDS –  of UFO sightings reported in Texas throughout March and April of 1897. And oddly enough, these sightings didn’t slowly trickle out as you would expect. They just abruptly ended. By May of 1897, the “Great Texas Airship Sightings” were over.

I am currently writing a book about the public’s reaction to the Great Texas Airship Sightings of 1897. If you’d like to see some of the research I dug up on the subject, check out the presentation I gave last year at the Aurora Alien Encounter, the first annual UFO Expo to commemorate the 1897 UFO crash in Aurora, Texas. (My photo even made the local paper – whee!)

Here’s a link to a video of my presentation called What on Earth were They Thinking? Public Reaction to the 1897 Airship Mystery:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEH7mM16ONc

 

The new grave marker for the 1897 UFO space alien in Aurora, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
The new grave marker for the 1897 UFO space alien in Aurora, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Weird Tale Inspires Authors

I’m not the only one inspired by the Aurora, Texas UFO crash of 1897. Today, I met up with fellow writer, Donna Latham, and took her to Aurora Cemetery so she could see the alien gravesite for herself. Donna is an award winning author and playwright who drove up from Houston for a writing research road trip with her husband. (I love going on those with my own hubby!)

Donna came across my name while looking into the Aurora alien grave. Her play is still in its infancy but I am really excited to see what she ends up creating! For more about Donna Latham, drop by her official website:  http://www.donnalatham.com/

Details on the new grave marker for the 1897 UFO space alien in Aurora, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Details on the new grave marker for the 1897 UFO space alien in Aurora, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Directions to Aurora Cemetery

If you ever make it to north Texas and wish to visit the Aurora space alien grave, let me know what you see. There isn’t an official street address for Aurora Cemetery, but it’s easy to find. If you have a GPS, set it for: Cemetery Rd, Aurora, TX 76078. If not, head towards Rhome, Texas on US 81/287. Exit onto Highway 114, drive roughly 1.5 miles then turn onto Cemetery Road. The cemetery will be on your lefthand side.

FREE Cemetery Symbols Guide:

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Historic Cemetery Symbols: The “Vein of Love” & the Meaning of Left and Right

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Symbolic Meaning of Left & Right

For this week’s Historic Cemetery Symbols post, we explore: The Meaning of Left and Right, and the Vein of Love!

Traditional headstone, with the wife on the left (photo by Tui Snider)
Traditional headstone, with the wife on the left (photo by Tui Snider)

Left and Right on a Headstone

Married folks often share a headstone, and when they do, most of the time you will notice that – as you stand facing the monument – the wife’s name will be on the left, and the husband’s name will be on the right.

In the same vein (pun intended, but you’ll have to read the rest of this post to get it!), if you’ve ever attended a traditional Christian wedding, then you may also recall that the bride’s family always sits on the left side of the church and the groom’s on the right.

The reasons for having the woman on the left and men on the right have grown murky over time. As a writer, I find it frustrating when I can’t pin things down exactly during my research. But, here’s what I’ve got. One school of thought claims the reason a bride stands to the left of her husband is so that she is closest to his heart, and maybe that’s true.

It’s certainly a romantic notion!

Another idea is that grooms kept their brides on the left in order to keep their fighting arm free to swing a sword if need be during the ceremony. This supposedly hearkens back to the days when brides were sometimes snatched away by competitors, even in the middle of a marriage ceremony!

The Vein of Love

One thing I do know is that it was once believed that a special vein ran from the fourth finger of the left hand directly up the arm and straight to the heart. This vein was called the “vena amoris,” which means “vein of love” in Latin.

And, hey, maybe the ancients were onto something here. After all, a common heart attack symptom for men includes a pain that radiates down the left arm.

In any case, it has become traditional for wives to be buried on the left, with their husbands buried on the right. Other clues about the deceased’s family use left

Other Clues Revealed by Left & Right

Paying attention to the left and right side of a grave often reveals other information. For instance, if you see a headstone with, say, 2 stars on the left and 3 on the right, this is most likely more than just a decorative motif. The number of stars on the left might mean how many daughters this person had, while the number of stars on the right could represent how many sons!

There are exceptions to every rule - even with historic cemetery symbols! (photo by Tui Snider)
There are exceptions to every rule – even with historic cemetery symbols! (photo by Tui Snider)

Exceptions to the Rule!

While it’s exciting to learn the meaning behind historic cemetery symbols there are exceptions to every rule! As I like to say:

“When it comes to Cemetery Symbolism:

Just because it’s written in stone, doesn’t mean it’s written in stone!” – Tui Snider

Case in point, check out the headstone pictured above. This time, the husband is on the left and the wife is on the right! I think I just *might* know the reason for the above exception, but I will share it in a future week’s article about this and other exceptions. I simply wanted to give you a little teaser here today! Bwa ha ha!

Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism:

I am currently writing a field guide to historic cemetery symbolism. Each Tuesday, I share a small snippet from my upcoming book. It’s my goal to create a handy-dandy pocket guide for taphophiles, genealogists, ghost hunters, and anyone else interested in the historic graveyard symbols that have become forgotten over the years.

Which symbols are you curious about?

Let me know in the comments if there is a certain symbol that you are curious about. Also, if you would like to know when the cemetery symbolism guide is available for purchase, scroll down and sign up for my newsletter! I look forward to hearing from you!

Want to read more like this?


To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best-selling travel guide:
UNEXPECTED TEXAS: Your Guide to Offbeat & Overlooked History, Day Trips & Fun Things to do near Dallas & Fort Worth.

For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best-selling travel guide to haunted places:
PARANORMAL TEXAS: Your Travel Guide to Haunted Places near Dallas & Fort Worth.

For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out this bizarre piece of West Texas history:
The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber

 


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Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below. Each week, I’ll let you know the Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week, who Teal Gray & I are interviewing on our show that night, and any other fun or interesting news. You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

Cemetery Symbols: Headstones, Footstones & Misleading Names

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Footstones are often nicknames (photo by Tui Snider)
Footstones are often nicknames (photo by Tui Snider)

Why do most headstones face east?

Most people have heard the word “headstone” before. Generally speaking, headstones mark where the head of the deceased is situated. In most Christian cemeteries, the person is oriented so that the body faces east. According to this tradition, this means they will be facing the right direction when the sun comes up on Judgment Day.

In a family plot, however, there is often one major headstone. While this monument may have the names of family members inscribed on it, it usually only has the family’s last name. So, you might see a large marker that simply reads, “Smith.”

What is a footstone?

Other family members will be buried in the family plot, with smaller headstones indicating their full names, birth and death dates. Family plots such as these often include footstones. A footstone is a small marker placed at the feet of the deceased. Footstones are most often engraved with a nickname or family title, such as “sister.”

Don’t take labels too literally!

If you are researching the family and trying to piece together who is related to who, be careful not to take these footstones too literally. In the old days, terms like “Aunt” and “Uncle” were not always meant in their literal sense, but were often used as affectionate terms of endearment.

In my book, The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber, for instance, one of the police officers involved was known simply as “Uncle Tom” by everyone in town – whether they were related to him or not!

Just remember: when it comes to historic graveyards, just because something is written in stone doesn’t mean it is written in stone!

Footstones are often nicknames (photo by Tui Snider)
Footstones are often nicknames (photo by Tui Snider)

FIELD GUIDE TO CEMETERY SYMBOLISM:

I am currently creating a field guide to cemetery symbolism. Each Tuesday, I am sharing a small snippet from my upcoming book. It’s my goal to create a handy-dandy pocket guide for taphophiles, genealogists, ghost hunters, and anyone else interested in the historic graveyard symbols that have become forgotten over the years.

What symbols are you curious about?

Let me know in the comments if there is a certain symbol that you are curious about. Also, if you would like to know when the cemetery symbolism guide is available for purchase, scroll down and sign up for my newsletter! I look forward to hearing from you!

Want to read more?

To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best selling travel guide: Unexpected Texas.
For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best selling travel guide to haunted places: Paranormal Texas.
For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out: The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber. Happy travels!

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my author newsletter using the form below:

Tui Snider having fun on a Texas road trip!
Tui Snider having fun on a Texas road trip!