Site of 1955 Alien Attack

Kelly, Kentucky

The tiny community of Kelly got some unwelcome guests on the evening of August 21, 1955: an invading horde of over a dozen short, dark creatures with glowing eyes. They besieged a farmhouse for nearly four hours, and were held off only by the occupants' terrified gunfire through the screen windows and doors.

Kelly became famous among UFO buffs for its "Little Green Men," but the invaders never returned and the locals showed no interest in preserving their memory.

On the 50th anniversary of the attack, Kelly finally decided to hold a commemorative festival for its most newsworthy occurrence. The town was shocked by how many people showed up. Bus tours ran all day from Hopkinsville, the nearest big town, because so many visitors were interested. Kelly decided to make the festival an annual event -- held the third weekend in August -- and built a permanent flying saucer in the town park where the festival is held.

The site of the attack is only a quarter-mile up the road, but Kentucky has never bothered to commemorate it with a state historical marker. It should.