Entry No. 17 — the Pittsburgh file — filed under: monument
Mars Flying Saucer
A 3,000-pound flying saucer crafted from two oil tanks that sits in the town square of Mars, Pennsylvania, celebrating the town's space-themed name and playful connection to extraterrestrial lore.
The story
Most towns given a cosmic name settle for a polite welcome sign and a local high school mascot. Mars, Pennsylvania took two massive industrial oil tanks, welded them together belly-to-belly, and dropped a 3,000-pound silver flying saucer right into the town square. You didn't hear it from us, but there's something wonderfully unpretentious about using Rust Belt hardware to build an extraterrestrial landing pod.
Located 25 miles north of Pittsburgh in Butler County, the borough at 100 Pittsburgh Street has completely leaned into its planetary moniker. The metallic saucer sits at the town's crossroads as an anchor for local lore, surrounded by small-town storefronts whose shopkeepers regularly stash plastic aliens and green extraterrestrial figurines in their display windows.
What it's like
This is a quick, five-to-ten-minute roadside pit stop with minimal friction. You pull up to Mars Town Square on Pittsburgh Street, park along the curb, and walk straight up to 1.5 tons of painted metal. Grab a coffee across the way at Mars Brew House, pose for a goofy photo next to the landing gear, and spend a few extra minutes scanning nearby window sills for hidden green men before heading out.
The move: Grab a coffee at the Mars Brew House, sit on the metal spaceship for a goofy photo shoot, and count how many other alien figures you can spot peeking out of local shop windows.
- 📍 Mars
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 100 Pittsburgh Ave, Mars, PA 16046
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Evans City Cemetery — Pair a fake alien landing with real horror history by driving five miles north to the cemetery where George Romero filmed the opening scene of Night of the Living Dead.
- Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory — Trade a saucer made of oil tanks for a view of the actual planet Mars by heading east to this hilltop observatory.
- The Barefoot Forge — If seeing 3,000 pounds of reshaped steel inspires you, head ten miles south to hammer raw iron under the guidance of a barefoot blacksmith.
Good to know
How much does it cost to visit the Mars Flying Saucer?
It's completely free and sitting out in the open in the town square.
What is the flying saucer actually made from?
It was crafted from two heavy-duty steel oil tanks welded together, weighing close to 3,000 pounds.
Where exactly is it located?
It sits at the corner of 100 Pittsburgh Street in downtown Mars, Pennsylvania, roughly 25 miles north of Pittsburgh.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · pabucketlist.com
last checked: 2026-07-21