Quirky Travel

Cemetery Symbols: Quirky Calculator Headstone

What does a larger-than-life T1-30 calculator symbolize in a graveyard?

CALCULATOR GRAVE MARKER: That really is a larger-than-life replica of a Texas Instruments T1-30 calculator at the top of this post. Your eyes are not playing tricks on you!

So, what exactly does this unique cemetery headstone represent? Is it symbolic of a human adding and subtracting all their good deeds from their bad? Or, perhaps, did an eccentric mathematician bury his or her favorite calculator there upon its demise?

I didn’t get close enough to photograph the calculator display because, sadly, I was actually attending a funeral when I spotted this one, but instead of numbers, the T1-30’s display simply reads, “HELLO.”

For some reason, each time I call Restland Cemetery over in Dallas, Texas to find out the story behind this unique calculator monument, they transfer my call. I then leave a voicemail, and no one ever calls back! So, as far as I can tell, this interesting monument was placed here as part of a memorial garden for employees of Texas Instruments. It doesn’t appear to be a headstone for one single person.

MORE QUIRKY HEADSTONES:
In any case, my favorite headstones are the quirky ones! Here are a few other ones I’ve run into along the way:

Footwear-Themed Headstones
Jesus in Cowboy Boots
Douglas the Confederate Camel’s Grave
Space Alien Grave in Aurora, Texas

Calculator headstone in Dallas, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

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!

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Tui Snider having fun on a Texas road trip!

How to Visit the Munster Mansion Replica in Waxahachie, Texas

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The following is an adapted excerpt from Unexpected Texas – my best-selling travel guide to quirky, offbeat and overlooked places near Dallas and Fort Worth. Check it out if you enjoy learning quirky facts, or are looking for offbeat road trip ideas in north Texas.

Munster Mansion Replica

While there is no official address for, “1313 Mockingbird Lane,” in north Texas, there is an excellent replica of the Munster family home over in the town of Waxahachie where, in 2001, Sandra and Charles McKee built a replica of the house depicted in the classic TV sitcom.

Since it’s a fictional house, the pair watched and re-watched all 70 episodes of the show in order to create their building plans. They really did an amazing job.

I can’t show you any photos from the interior, since they don’t allow people to take pictures inside the Munster Mansion replica, but trust me – they went all out!

They even have a fire-breathing creature under the main staircase. Some rooms, such as the bathroom, were never shown in the series, so they were able to wing it in those sections.

Who are the Munsters?

For those who don’t know, The Munsters is an American TV sitcom from the mid-1960′s with a really catchy theme song. The show followed the antics of a quirky-but-harmless monster family.

While the father was Frankenstein-esque, the grandfather and the mother were vampiric. Meanwhile, the son was a bit of a vampire/werewolf blend. This, in contrast, made the Munster’s pretty blond niece into their family misfit.

Bottom line: it’s a very playful, silly, 1960’s show!

Texas Munster Mansion not an official tourist attraction

While Sandra and Charles McKee have clearly put a lot of effort into their Munster Mansion recreation, it is not meant to be a year-round tourist attraction or museum.

For them, it is simply a fun project!

Munster Mansion Annual Halloween Charity Event

Even so, the house draws so much attention that since 2002, Sandra and Charles McKee have sponsored a two-day Munster Mansion Open House in October with all proceeds going to local charities, such as the Ellis County SPCA, the Salvation Army, and the Waxahachie Senior Citizen Center.

Since the annual open house attracts so many visitors and parking is limited out in the countryside where the Munster Mansion is, the McKee’s use a shuttle bus to ferry visitors back and forth.

When you go, be prepared to wait in line for up to 2 hours before getting a tour of the inside! It’s a good idea for family members to take turns waiting in line, while the rest of the crew enjoys all the fun and games on the front lawn, including a Munster Koach replica, snacks for sale, carnival style entertainment, and more!

Celebrity Guests at the Munster Mansion in Texas

Besides all the hard work the couple puts into setting up this open house, the McKee’s always try to have at least one actor from the original show attend the party.[Update: 2016 will be the *last* time Pat Priest will attend this event!]

In 2012, Butch Patrick (who played Eddie Munster) showed up to greet the crowd and tour the mansion. In 2013, Pat Priest (who played Marilyn Munster) pulled up in a limousine, signed autographs, and chatted with fans as you can see in the photo above.

How to visit the Munster Mansion in Texas

For more information, such as the exact dates of this year’s Munster Mansion Halloween Open House, as well as an excellent video interview with the Sandra and Charles McKee, check out the official Munster Mansion website:

Website: Munster Mansion replica in Waxahachie, Texas

Please note: While all the above information is accurate as of this writing, please be aware that it is subject to change.

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Subscribe for a Free copy of the North Texas Paranormal Resource Guide!

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If you sign up for my newsletter, I assume you are interested in quirky, offbeat, and/or haunted travel and lore – in other words, the same wacky, weird, and overlooked stuff I share on this blog!

How often will I receive your newsletter?
Good question! My motto for the newsletter is to keep it infrequent-but-interesting. In other words, I won’t be filling your inbox with long-winded emails every day. Expect to hear from me roughly once a month.

Behind the scenes…
Plus, as a subscriber you will be the first to know when my next book comes out, when they go on sale, as well as any ghost hunting trips or other adventures I have planned!

My Gift to You: North Texas Paranormal Resource Guide
As a thank you for signing up to my newsletter, subscribers can download a copy of the North Texas Paranormal Resource Guide, a 50-page ebook I created.

Why create a paranormal resource guide?
While researching haunted sites for Paranormal Texas, my quest for a concise list of active paranormal groups in north Texas left me empty-handed. I kept finding dead ends, abandoned websites, and ghost hunting groups that no longer existed. Plus, acronyms like NTPI, NPTRT, NPTP, and TPI made it downright confusing!

I originally planned to include the North Texas Paranormal Resource Guide as a section of the book Paranormal Texas. However, with more and more ghost hunting teams, haunted history tours, and paranormal expos springing up, it made sense to create a separate resource, one that can be updated periodically.

What’s in the guide?
The North Texas Paranormal Resource Guide is divided into two sections. Part One is an alphabetical listing of north Texas ghost hunting teams. Each listing includes the name of the group, the year it was founded, its email, and a brief excerpt from the team’s website. Part Two lists haunted history tours, and is alphabetically arranged by city.

Did I miss anything?
My goal for the North Texas Paranormal Resource Guide is to provide helpful information and save you time. While I have done my best to include every ghost hunting team and haunted history tour currently available in north Texas, I probably missed a few.

Drop me a line!
If you know of any ghost hunting groups, haunted history tours, cemetery tours, paranormal expos, meet-up, or other goodies that should be added, please send an email to TuiSnider @ gmail [dot] com with the subject “Paranormal Resource Guide,” and I will include that info in the next edition.

Great! How do I sign up & claim my FREE book?
Yay! Glad to have you along for the ride. To sign up for the newsletter, simply scroll down and enter your name and email in the form below. Thanks!

In the meantime, happy ghost hunting!
~ Tui Snider

Mineola, Texas Makes a Fun Weekend Getaway

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The following is an adapted excerpt from Unexpected Texas,my fun travel guide to quirky, offbeat and overlooked places near Dallas and Fort Worth. Check it out if you are looking for fun road trips in north Texas. Also, for a *FREE* 50-page guide to ghost hunting groups and haunted history tours in north Texas, sign up for my infrequent-but-interesting newsletter by clicking here:

Located at the junction of US highways 80 and 69, Mineola is situated in Wood County which, true to its name, is a highly-forested section of the East Texas Piney Woods. Early industries included lumber, farming and a chair factory, although things really got hopping once a railroad terminal was added and oil was discovered nearby.

Mineola was Originally called Sodom

It’s unclear exactly how the town of Mineola got its name. While some claim a railway official named it after his daughter, Ola, and her BFF, Minnie, others say the name was created by a surveyor who combined his daughter’s name with her friend, Minna. Either way, Mineola has a much nicer ring to it than Sodom, which is what the town was originally called. (You can’t make this stuff up, people. Well, you could, but in Texas, you don’t have to.)

Dueling Railways Race to Reach Mineola

In 1873, the International-Great Northern (IGN) and the Texas and Pacific railroad raced each other to see which line could reach Mineola first. The IGN squeaked into town a mere 15 minutes before its rival! The town incorporated in 1877, and despite a devastating fire, it soon became a bustling little burg full of churches, hotels, banks and several schools.

Modern Mineola

These days, Mineola is a peaceful little community with a population of 4,515 as of the 2010 US census. In springtime, the roads are lined with bluebonnets and other wildflowers. In autumn, it’s perfect for leaf-peeping, Texas style. This makes the region ideal for scenic drives, with impromptu produce stands and garage sales a common sight on your way in and out of town.

Amtrak Station in Mineola: enjoy a car-free road trip!
In its heyday, Mineola was a terminal for train crews and featured two railroad hotels, one on either side of the tracks. The railroad is still a big part of this city, which is one of the few small towns in Texas to have an Amtrak station. Since Mineola’s main sights are within walking distance of the train depot, and there are daily stops from both Dallas and Forth Worth, a car-less weekend getaway is a viable option. Visit the Mineola, Texas Amtrak train station page to book your tickets.

Things to See & Do in Mineola, Texas

Historic Downtown Mineola
Thanks to its designations as a Texas Main Street City since 1989 and a National Main Street City since 2000, Mineola has done a good job preserving its historic buildings. The downtown is still paved in bright red bricks, with streets lined with specialty shops, restaurants, and top-notch antiquing. Many alleyways have faded advertisements painted on them, as well as murals painted more recently.

Shopping:
As mentioned above, Mineola’s historic downtown is full of Mom and Pop shops, and has several worthwhile antique stores to explore. Stop by the Shop Mineola official website to see which ones are open when you visit.

Mineola Historical Museum
Staffed by enthusiastic historians, this free museum is located just one block from Mineola’s main street. If you have a question about Mineola, or just Texas, in general, they are more than willing to help out. Check out the Mineola Historical Museum official website for more information.

Lake Country Playhouse
Lake Country Playhouse is one of the longest running movie theaters in Texas, having been in operation since 1920. Despite its old-school looks and retro neon sign, this cinema plays first-run movies as well as community theater productions and even becomes a haunted house called “Warehouse of Terror” in October. Check out the Lake Country Playhouse official website to see what’s going on.

Music on the Streets
Every Saturday morning, acoustic musicians are invited to head downtown, stand in a shady doorway or street corner and play solo or with friends. As you can see in the photo I posted, there were a couple guitarists picking and a-grinning on the day my husband and I visited.

Farmers Market
There is a small farmers market at the train depot in downtown Mineola every Saturday starting in May and continuing for as long as the weather holds out (most likely July or August.) Click on the Mineola Farmers Market official website to see what’s “growing on” when you come to town.

Birthplace of Miss Ima Hogg
While Mineola has many Texas State Historical markers, the quirkiest one I ran across is at 125 N. Line Street, where a plaque stands in front of the house where Ima Hogg was born on July 10, 1882. If you think “North West” is an odd name, imagine going through life as “Ima Hogg.”

While rumors of a twin sister named Ura have persisted, Ima was the only daughter of Jim Hogg, who later became governor of the state of Texas. Why he named her Ima is a matter of much debate, but Miss Hogg’s life was no joke. She never married, but devoted her life to art and philanthropy instead.

Mineola Nature Preserve
Whether you feel like hiking, biking, walking, camping, birding, fishing, picnicking or riding your horse, the Mineola Nature Preserve can help you out. With 2,911 acres of nature for you to explore, including a beehive that you can view through safety glass, this gorgeous public park is open daily to give you the nature-fix you crave. They even offer stargazing parties and other educational activities. Check out the Mineola Nature Preserve official website for the most current information.

Blueberry Ridge Farm
The oldest certified organic blueberry farm in Texas is a short drive to the east of Mineola. During blueberry season, it’s a U-pick destination. It also has a country store called, oddly enough, “Country Store,” where they sell blueberry-related items, molasses, local honey, old-fashioned candy, goats milk soap and other items you might expect at a, well, country store. Check out the Blueberry Ridge Farm official website for more information.

Where to Eat & Sleep in Mineola

Kitchen’s Hardware
If you’re a fan of the Gilmore Girls TV show, then a restaurant in an old hardware store is not an odd concept to you. If not, well, get used to it, because Kitchen’s Hardware is here to stay. Larry and I dined here on the recommendation of our B&B hosts at the Munzesheimer Manor, and they did not steer us wrong. I ordered the the peppered steak and I’ve never had beef that tender in my life. The setting is a lot of fun, too; it’s like a hardware store museum, with its pot bellied stove, a hand-operated Otis rope elevator and other items from yesteryear everywhere you look. Check out the Kitchen’s Hardware Facebook page to see what the specials are today.

East Texas Burger Company
With its sassy wait staff and tasty food (gotta love those sweet potato fries!) the East Texas Burger Company (126 Broad, Mineola, TX ) is a good choice and easy on the wallet. I got a kick out of all the napkin doodles and notes tacked to the wall. They’re fun to read while waiting for your order to come up. Legend has it that Bonnie and Clyde once dined at this burger joint. Other famous clientele includes Dan Rather and Sissy Spacek. Check out the East Texas Burger Company official website for specials and a schedule of live entertainment.

Munzesheimer Manor
Munzesheimer Manor is a consistently award-winning bed and breakfast, as voted by Inn Traveler magazine, the Dallas Morning News, Arrington’s B&B Journal and more. But really, all accolades aside, this lovely B&B makes a wonderful getaway from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Talk about a home away from home! Munzesheimer Manor offers rooms in a beautifully restored Victorian home as well as accommodations in adjacent cottages. My husband, Larry, and I stayed in the railroad-themed Engineer’s room and we loved it.

Full disclosure here: When I’m traveling on a research trip, it can be very “rush-rush” but the innkeepers, Bob and Sherry Murray, made us feel so welcome that I really just wanted to toss all my notes to the side and kick back for a couple of days. In fact, Munzesheimer Manor is so wonderful that my husband has requested that I book us there again as proper guests rather than travel researchers! To book your getaway, visit the Munzesheimer Manor official website.

There you have it, folks! Mineola, Texas is a fun place to visit and there is lots to see and do. Let me know if you decide to check out this cute little town, and if you visit any of the places I’ve suggested, tell ’em Tui sent you!

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Photo Essay: UFO Themed Town of Roswell, New Mexico

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OK, so it was actually more of a roadtrip through Roswell than a roadtrip to Roswell, New Mexico, but I am glad we stopped by because I made two startling discoveries:

The singer John Denver hails from Roswell, New Mexico. (Gasp! Perhaps his ultralight aircraft was reverse engineered?)
New Mexican style Mexican food is quite different than the Tex Mex we get here in the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex.

I didn’t spot any UFOS in the sky, but shop windows and signs featured aliens galore:

Wal-Mart in Roswell, New Mexico (photo by Tui Snider)

For those who don’t know, Roswell’s main claim to fame is that in 1947 a flying saucer allegedly crashed nearby. Newscasts reported that locals were involved in retrieving debris from the mangled spaceship and in conducting an autopsy on a dead alien. The United States Air Force quickly recanted these claims, however, stating that it was actually remnants of a weather balloon and nothing more.

Even so, books, movies, TV shows, and a slew of deathbed confessions by people claiming to have been hushed by the US government keep this local legend alive. One could say that the Roswell Incident is the original X File. (Then again, here in Texas we have the famous Aurora Space Crash & Alien Grave, which pre-dates Roswell by a full 50 years!)

Nowadays, the little town of Roswell, New Mexico remains synonymous with the concept of space aliens and government cover-ups, so I was curious to swing by and see how this manifested in the local culture.

As we cruised down Roswell’s main drag, one thing became quite clear: the locals were having fun with the whole UFO thing. As you can see from the photos I snapped as we whizzed by, the KFC, Wal-Mart, and even the local credit union all have an alien theme. (The local IHOP missed their chance to rebrand as the Intergalactic House of Pancakes, but every crowd has a stick in the mud.)

When it comes to alien-themed buildings, one of the McDonald’s in Roswell went all out. Check out my post, UFO Shaped McDonald’s in Roswell, New Mexico to see photos and get the address.

Alien autopsy in Roswell, New Mexico (photo by Tui Snider)

The main concentration of alien-oriented shops and sights is in the older section of town where people have set up UFO themed shops near the Roswell UFO Museum. While the museum is quite interesting, and seems well-researched, it’s obvious that the displays are the result of a labor of love more than an abundance of cash.

In fact, what I find endearing about Roswell is the grassroots way in which alien lore permeates the town. Sure, there are tons of T-shirts, pencils, coffee mugs and other souvenirs for sale, but there is nothing slick about it. Even the window displays depicting poker playing grays and alien autopsies have a decidedly homegrown feel.

Roswell, New Mexico (photo by Tui Snider)

Nothing anomalous happened during our visit, although on the way out of town we stopped by a restaurant called Tia Juana’s (which is what led to startling discovery number two.)

We chose Tia Juana’s because it looked family-run and the parking lot was full. It was a good choice. For starters, the place serves homemade tortilla chips, sopapillas, and tortillas. Everything we had was spicy, yet full-flavored. I would dine there again in a flash. In fact, if I lived nearby, I would surely have many instances of missing time attributed to long lunches there.

We left Roswell with full bellies and satisfied taste buds. And even though the long stretches of highway made me daydream about whether or not our planet has ever been visited by extraterrestrials, one thing is for certain: the food at Tia Juana’s in Roswell, New Mexico is out of this world.

Typical window display in Roswell, New Mexico (photo by Tui Snider)

To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my Amazon Best Seller, Unexpected Texas.

For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my recently-released travel guide to haunted places, Paranormal Texas. Happy travels!

1897 UFO Crash & Alien Body – Is this the Roswell of Texas?

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Did a UFO Crash in Texas in 1897?

Aurora Texas UFO grave photo by Tui Snider

Back in 2012, I learned of a strange incident that allegedly occurred in Aurora, Texas. 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.

There’s even a Texas State Historical Marker at the site describing the strange event!

To see a 5-minute video I created about this incident, visit my YouTube channel below:

Texas Space Alien Headstone Missing

When I first visited Aurora Cemetery in June of 2012, it was easy to find where the Texas settlers buried the body of the alleged space alien, as you can see in the photo at the top of this post.

When I returned in March of 2013, however, the headstone was missing! All I found in its place was a rock the size of a baseball and some plastic flowers, as you can see in the photo above.

Weird, eh?

But wait…there’s more:

The alien's headstone was stolen in 2013! (photo by Tui Snider) — The alien’s headstone was stolen in 2013! (photo by Tui Snider)

This UFO Crash Pre-dates the Roswell Incident

You’ve probably heard of, The Roswell Incident, an alleged spaceship crash in the desert of New Mexico in 1947. (Speaking of Roswell, New Mexico, I recently posted about the spaceship-shaped fast food restaurant there in UFO Shapted McDonald’s in Roswell, New Mexico.)

The Roswell incident is arguably the most well-known 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! I was pretty excited to find out that I live a hop, skip and jump from Roswell’s Texan equivalent.

Aurora Cemetery is a beautiful historic graveyard (photo by Tui Snider)

A spaceship crash with an alien body in north Texas?

As the story goes, in the early morning hours of April 17, 1897 something crash-landed in the north Texas town of Aurora. According to a newspaper article which appeared in the April 19th edition of the Dallas News, a mysterious cigar-shaped airship ran into a windmill, spread debris across several acres and – strangest of all – a small humanoid body was discovered in the wreck. According to the reporter, although the petite alien was, “not an inhabitant of this world,” his or her body was later buried at the local cemetery.

The Dallas News Article about the Mysterious Airship Crash in Aurora, Texas

Here’s a link to a scan of the original article, and here’s what the reporter claims:
“About 6 o’clock this morning the early risers of Aurora were astonished at the sudden appearance of the airship which has been sailing around the country. It was traveling due north and much nearer the earth than before.

Evidently some of the machinery was out-of-order, for it was making a speed of only ten or twelve miles an hour, and gradually settling toward the earth. It sailed over the public square and when it reached the north part of town it collided with the tower of Judge Proctor’s windmill and went into pieces with a terrific explosion, scattering debris over several acres of ground, wrecking the windmill and water tank and destroying the judge’s flower garden.

The pilot of the ship is supposed to have been the only one aboard and, while his remains were badly disfigured, enough of the original has been picked up to show that he was not an inhabitant of this world.”

What happened after the Spaceship Crash in Aurora Texas?

These days, with over 1800 graves, the Aurora Cemetery claims more inhabitants than the little town itself, with its current population of 376. In the late 1800’s, however, Aurora was poised to make it big. Its population boomed to nearly 3000 residents, making it one of the largest cities in Wise County. Sadly, a spotted fever epidemic killed hundreds of residents, the cotton crop failed and the railroad decided to pass the town by.

Given the mindset of the era and the challenges they faced, it’s not surprising that instead of studying the alien’s body for science, the town buried the creature and moved on with their lives.

No reportage exists regarding the actual funeral ceremony, although a headstone was placed at the gravesite. According to photos and verbal accounts, this headstone depicted a crudely carved cigar-shaped object with portholes in the side.

As for the townsfolk of Aurora, they had enough going on with epidemics, crop failure and being slighted by the railroad to worry about the mysterious alien’s origins.

Can you blame them?

Renewed Interest in the Aurora Texas Spaceship Crash

The entire incident faded into the background as the once-booming town of Aurora withered into near oblivion. Then, in 1973, a United Press International blurb mentioned that incident.

I find this part of the story quite strange, personally. Why did the story suddenly resurface?

Why 1973? (UPDATE: Check out my recent interview on Coast to Coast AM radio to find out more details about what transpired in Aurora in 1973!)

I have no idea! Whatever the reason, this little article created so much interest in the old story that local police guarded the alien grave day and night. Sadly, the night they quit this vigil, someone stole the original headstone for the space creature. There was even a push to exhume the alien’s body, but the cemetery association declined.

I should add that the original tombstone was stolen in 1973. The grave marker that I saw back in June of 2012, which you see a photo of here, was added sometime in the the 2000’s, and stolen in 2013.

What Aurora, Texas alien crash site debunkers say

Many people believe the Aurora alien spaceship crash to be a complete hoax.
Their main complaints with the scenario are:

1. There was no windmill on Judge Proctor’s land.

2. There is no well.

3. There is no grave.

4. There is no mysterious metal near the crash site.

5. The reporter made the story up hoping to make the town a tourist attraction.

Pennies on the alien grave in Aurora, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

What Aurora, Texas alien crash site believers say

1. The History Channel found evidence of a windmill (actually a “windlass” that was mis-reported as a windmill) on Judge Proctor’s land.

2. They found a well at this site, too. The well was capped in the 1950’s because the owner thought it was contaminated by the alien debris. the History Channel convinced the current owner to let them uncap it and test the water.

3. Melted metal has been found in the alleged crash site area. This metal is not some unearthly element. It’s aluminum. While aluminum seems commonplace to us now, it was actually quite rare in the late 1800’s.

4. The History Channel also found, via ground-penetrating radar, a casket-shaped item in the exact spot where the alien is allegedly buried.

5. The Roswell crash debris was taken to Fort Worth, which is quite near Aurora.

6. The town of Aurora is set up like a military base. (I’m not sure what people mean by this, but I did notice a street called, “Base,” or something like that. I will have to look into this claim more.)

Visiting Aurora Cemetery:

There isn’t an official street address for Aurora Cemetery, but it’s not hard 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.

My thoughts on the Aurora, Texas Alien crash site

While I don’t think there is conclusive proof that an alien being crashed a UFO in north Texas, I do think something unusual happened in Aurora back in April of 1897.

Sadly, it is such a cold case that we may never know the truth.

I wish the Aurora Cemetery would let a respected investigation group exhume the alien’s coffin and see what is in there. The cemetery board very nearly dug up the mysterious grave back in 1973, but since Texas State law requires the next of kin to be notified before an exhumation, they ran into a brick wall.

Other Cigar Shaped UFOs Reported in 1896 and 1897

While researching this strange story, I came across a rash of, “mysterious cigar-shaped airship” sightings in 1896 and 1897. These UFOs were spotted all over the USA, but especially in Texas. Some of the accounts are downright ridiculous. (In one, the aliens reportedly sang religious hymns and had a barbecue.) Many others, however, are much more believable.

Perhaps what makes the Aurora incident so enduring is that – even if it is just a tall Texan tale – its details dance along the edge of possibility without plunging overboard into the utterly implausible. While frustrating from a scientific perspective, it’s good advice for storytellers.

Then again, to paraphrase Freud, “Sometimes a cigar-shaped object is just a cigar-shaped object.”

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & Facebook Page:

Do you have questions about symbols you’ve seen on headstones? Drop by Exploring Historic Cemeteries on Facebook and let me know! And tune in to my 30-minute historic cemetery podcast on the first Tuesday of each month: Tombstone Tuesday with Tui Snider.

READ MY BOOK: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Cemetery Symbols: Quirky Calculator Headstone

What does a larger-than-life T1-30 calculator symbolize in a graveyard?

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