Within the desolate Nevada desert lies a military base that is shrouded in official secrecy that the US government has refused to acknowledge its’ existence. Built in the 1950s by the CIA, this base is commonly known as Area 51. As a CIA installation it functions completely independent of other government departments. Still to this day, signs at the entrance warn all visitors that they have no constitutional rights on the premises, and armed guards patrol the perimeter. It is the UFO community’s worst kept secret, and the area is now a crusade for alien seekers.
Despite its secrecy, Area 51 has become the subject of countless conspiracy theories over the years. Some people believe that the facility is used to hide evidence of extraterrestrial life, while others believe that it is home to advanced technologies and secret government projects.
Area 51 was built around the Groom Lake Air Force base and is adjacent to the Nevada atomic test range. This location was a perfect site to carry out classified aircraft tests. One of the most well-known projects associated with Area 51 is the development of the U-2 spy plane, which was used by the United States during the Cold War to gather intelligence on the Soviet Union. The U-2 was an advanced aircraft that was capable of flying at extremely high altitudes, and it was equipped with sophisticated cameras and sensors that allowed it to gather intelligence from a distance.
Over the years of testing, the base slowly grew, establishing its own small community and the landing strip was increased to three miles long. The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” was developed on the secretive site, and an unknown number of technologies are housed in the base’s underground. It is believed by many that these technological advancements are from a different planet, and that the base is a test zone, and hiding place for extraterrestrial aircraft. Often at night, strange lights can be seen in the sky above the base, and many spectators believe the site hides the levels of underground laboratories.
Extensive knowledge of operations which have taken place at Area 51 have come from one whistleblower, Bob Lazar. In 1989, Lazar was a scientist employed by a company called EG & G who said they were working on a propulsion project at the testing center within a secretive location called S4. Subsequent conversations from Lazar revealed that he and other scientists were instructed to reverse engineer an alien aircraft apart and construct one using human-made parts. As part of their work, the scientists were informed about the role of aliens in the history of planet Earth, and on one occasion, Lazar even claims to have briefly witnessed a real, live, alien at the S4 site.
Over the course of time, Lazar says he possessed an innate desire to rebel against his employers. On March 22, 1989, Lazar and some friends traveled down Groom Lake Road and observed a flying disc flight. The disc they witnessed glowed extremely brightly and flew so close they had to move out of sight. On the following week, on the way back home from another UFO-spotting trip, the group were seen and stopped by security patrolling the area. The very next day Lazar was fired from EG & G. He eventually revealed that nine discs are said to be stored at the S4 site.
Some of the disturbing things that go on at and around the base are more obvious than others. The road to its entrance is known as ‘The Widow’s Highway’ because of the high number of employees at the base who perish due to contact with hazardous materials. The area is believed by experts to be a secret dumping ground for toxic chemicals, rather than a UFO base. In either case though, the workers took an oath of secrecy, and cannot reveal any details of what they have been dealing with to their physicians. This has instigated many of their wives to file court cases against the United States government, who has incessantly refuted the allegations on the grounds that Area 51 does not officially exist. However, in July 2013, following a FOIA request filed in 2005, the Central Intelligence Agency publicly acknowledged the existence of the base for the first time by declassifying documents detailing the history and purpose of Area 51. So, are there aliens living within the fences of the Area 51 site, or is it all a figment of our imaginations? All signs point to yes, but good luck trying to get the government to confirm these suspicions.
In recent years, Area 51 has become a popular destination for UFO enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists, who believe that the facility is hiding evidence of extraterrestrial life. In 2019, a viral internet meme called “Storm Area 51” prompted thousands of people to plan a mass protest at the facility, with the aim of “seeing them aliens.” Despite the widespread attention, the event was ultimately a disappointment, as only a small number of people actually showed up to the protest.
Despite the many theories and rumors surrounding Area 51, the truth about the facility remains shrouded in mystery. The United States government has never publicly acknowledged the existence of the base, and it is not open to the public. Regardless of what goes on inside Area 51, it has become a cultural icon and a symbol of government secrecy and intrigue. It has been the subject of countless movies, TV shows, and books, and it continues to capture the imagination of people all over the world.