Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

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Topic:

Area 51

A satellite photo of Area 51 taken from Google Maps.

A satellite photo of Area 51 taken from Google Maps.

Situated in Lincoln County near the Nevada Test & Training Range is Area 51, one of the most secretive places on Earth. Its very existence was denied by the government up until 2003. Although the purpose of the facility has not been officially declared, many believe it to be a testing facility for experimental weapons and aircraft. The secrecy and strange happenings occurring around Area 51 has inspired countless conspiracy theories.

Archive highlights

Alien contradiction is focus of new book

Mon, Dec 1, 1997

The stretch of desert known as Area 51 remains so shrouded in secrecy the government is still reluctant to admit it exists.

Feds asked to shed light on UFOs

Tue, Oct 22, 2002

WASHINGTON -- The federal government is not adequately investigating unidentified flying objects and is hiding UFO-related documents, members of a new coalition hoping to bring a serious tone to the ...

An eccentric's struggle for truth

Sun, Dec 18, 2005

Several years ago, he abandoned that quest, but the desire to get to the bottom of official secrets never left him.

At last, a glimpse of Area 51

Tue, Apr 18, 2000

On the Internet

All stories

House panel sees videos of unexplained aerial sightings, pushes Pentagon for answers

Wed, May 18, 2022

The congressional hearing was the first in more than a half-century to focus on military reports of unexplained phenomena — the current term for UFOs — and a chance for ...

Beyond Sci-Fi: Studies of UFOs gain mainstream acceptance years after Harry Reid first pushed for them

Sun, May 9, 2021

Former Sen. Harry Reid is a somewhat unlikely advocate of the mysterious. He’s never personally seen a UFO, nor does he have any desire to see one. And yet, he ...

Mayor's online broadcasts keep Mesquite residents in the know about the pandemic

Wed, Jun 24, 2020

Mesquite Mayor Al Litman's overriding message to the residents in his city 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas is to “keep the faith” and stay “Mesquite strong” during the pandemic. ...

Revelers reach gates of Area 51 then peacefully rejoin party

Fri, Sep 20, 2019

Thousands of curious Earthlings from around the globe traveled to festivals, and several hundred made forays toward the secret Area 51 military base in the Nevada desert ...

Music starts for Earthlings around Area 51 events

Thu, Sep 19, 2019

Sound checks echoed from a distant main stage while Daniel Martinez whirled and danced at dusty makeshift festival grounds just after sunset in Rachel ...

Dutch duo out on bail in trespassing charge at Nevada security site

Thu, Sep 12, 2019

The suspects were found about 3 miles into the federal facility near the gate at the Mercury Highway entrance ...

Forget Area 51. There’s now an invitation to storm Loch Ness.

Sat, Jul 27, 2019

Weeks after a call went out on Facebook for people to “storm Area 51,” the top-secret U.S. military site in the Nevada desert that is said to hide aliens, a ...

To the Air Force, Storm Area 51 isn’t that funny of a joke

Wed, Jul 17, 2019

The Air Force spokeswoman said the military was aware of the Facebook activity and warned that “any attempt to illegally access military installations or military training areas is …

Clinton interested in opening files on Area 51, UFOs

Wed, May 11, 2016

Known for her grasp of policy, Hillary Clinton has spoken at length in her presidential campaign on topics ranging from Alzheimer’s research to military tensions in the South China Sea. ...

Air Force to condemn land near Area 51 after sale talks fail

Thu, Sep 10, 2015

Arguing it has exhausted all options, the Air Force instructed the Department of Justice today to condemn the 400-acre Groom Mine owned by a Henderson family. The parcel sits within ...

Deadline expires for private land near Area 51

Thu, Sep 10, 2015

A Henderson family has until 3 p.m. today to accept the Air Force’s $5.2 million offer to buy roughly 400 acres encircled by the Nevada Test and Training Range, which ...

Live from Pahrump: Art Bell, master of the paranormal, makes radio return Monday

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Sixty-eight-year-old Art Bell has not been on air regularly since 2003, but he is coming out of retirement for a new show on SiriusXM that launches Monday from his home ...

Area 51 declassification could lead to sightings of ... tourists

Sun, Aug 25, 2013

The Little A’Le’Inn has been an unlikely tourist destination in the Mojave Desert for nearly 25 years, selling souvenirs — from green alien coffee cups to E.T. Highway T-shirts — ...

Government acknowledges Area 51 in declassified spy plane documents

Thu, Aug 15, 2013

The government has finally recognized the existence of Area 51, according to the National Security Archive, which published recently obtained declassified CIA reports detailing and mapping the previously unacknowledged area ...

UFO hunters visit secret Area 51

Wed, Feb 25, 2009

For the curious who want to know the latest about Area 51, the top secret desert base about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, an hour-long episode of "UFO Hunters: ...