Most people worry about storms, accidents or lightning strikes. Almost nobody worries about a space rock crashing through their roof.
But that’s exactly what happened to Ann Hodges, a woman from Sylacauga, Alabama, who found herself at the center of one of the strangest stories in modern history.
On the afternoon of November 30, 1954, Ann was taking a nap on her living room couch when a grapefruit-sized object suddenly tore through her roof. The rock smashed into a wooden radio before bouncing directly into her side, instantly waking her up.
At the same time, people across town reported seeing a blazing object streak across the sky. Witnesses described a bright fireball followed by loud explosions, leaving many convinced that a plane had crashed or that something even more alarming had happened.
Experts soon arrived and confirmed the unbelievable truth: the object that struck Ann was a meteorite that had fallen from space.
Remarkably, she survived with little more than a painful bruise on her side. However, surviving the impact was only the beginning of her ordeal.
News of the incident spread across the country almost overnight. Reporters, photographers and curious visitors flooded the small Alabama town, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the woman who had somehow become part of history.
Then another battle began — over ownership of the meteorite itself. Ann believed the rock belonged to her because it had literally fallen onto her. Her landlord disagreed, arguing that anything landing on the property belonged to her instead. The dispute eventually ended with a settlement that allowed Ann to keep the meteorite.
The couple initially hoped the famous space rock would make them rich, but public interest faded faster than expected. After years of trying to sell it, the meteorite was eventually donated to a museum, where it remains today.
Although Ann escaped serious physical injury, the intense attention that followed reportedly took a heavy toll on her personal life and emotional well-being.
More than 70 years later, Ann Hodges still holds a record unlike any other. She remains the only documented person known to have been struck by a
