PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

If it looked more official, it wouldn’t be nearly as cool.

A flying saucer can be found at the intersection of Pittsburgh Street and Grand Avenue in Mars; it’s an ode to the borough’s extraterrestrial name (even if the origins of the town’s moniker remain murky).

There is not, however, a plaque, historic marker or other information about the spaceship — it just sits there, in a small parklet that also contains the bell from the decommissioned U.S.S. Mars and a tall pole reading “May Peace Prevail on the Earth.” A group of local businessmen led by proud Mars residents Shorty Davis and Bill Swaney constructed the saucer, bit by bit, in the early 1990s; its construction and installation, while done in the spirit of civic pride, were decidedly unofficial endeavors.

In other words, the 3,000-pound vessel seems like it merely landed here one day.

The flying saucer, which is occasionally repainted in a variety of colors but usually bears a standard gray coat, is one of many space-themed details around town. A little green alien can be found in just about every shop window, and many nearby businesses keep the theme going — including the Mars Brew House, which can be found next door to the saucer and claims to offer the “finest coffee in the universe.”

Grab a cup of joe and have a seat on one of the region’s most fitting, if mysterious, landmarks.

Find It!
100 Pittsburgh St., Mars