Topic:

Area 51

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

Anne Hosier

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

Benjamin Grove

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

Molly Ball

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

By Mary Manning

On the Internet

All stories

The home they love, for now

Sun, Sep 7, 2008

By Mike Trask

The people here love to drink booze, shoot guns and ride dirt bikes. They can do them all simultaneously without risking arrest as they come and go from the A’Le’Inn, ...

Secret’s out about field we can’t talk about

Mon, Jan 21, 2008

By Brian Hilderbrand

Area 51, the top-secret military installation tucked away in a remote part of the Southern Nevada desert, apparently wasn’t always so top-secret.

An eccentric's struggle for truth

Sun, Dec 18, 2005

Molly Ball

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

Feds asked to shed light on UFOs

Tue, Oct 22, 2002

Benjamin Grove

Fan group wants the credit for 51s

Fri, Feb 9, 2001

Dean Juipe

It didn't take a brainstorming session for the front office staff of what was then the Las Vegas Stars to come up with a new nickname for the triple-A baseball ...

Pentagon remarks on Area 51

Wed, Apr 19, 2000

Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon made the statement in response to questions about Monday's posting of the first detailed images from a Russian satellite of Area 51 at the Nevada Test ...

At last, a glimpse of Area 51

Tue, Apr 18, 2000

By Mary Manning

On the Internet

Transcripts still censored in Area 51 case against feds

Fri, Feb 25, 2000

U.S. District Judge Philip Pro released on Thursday the sealed transcript of a hearing over workers' claims they were harmed at a secret U.S. Air Force site known as Area ...

Editorial: No need for silence on Area 51 safety

Thu, Feb 3, 2000

The federal government shouldn't be forced to jeopardize national security, but at the same time it is shameful that it resists acknowledging whether it placed workers in harm's way. The ...

Area 51 to remain closed to environmental oversight

Wed, Feb 2, 2000

President Clinton on Tuesday again declared the top-secret Air Force base known as Area 51 off limits to national, state or local environmental laws.

A search for clues in wake of deadly Air Force crash

Sat, Sep 5, 1998

Angie Wagner

But the two aircraft crashed in the Nevada desert near the top-secret Area 51, killing all 12 people aboard. The wreckage was found at 2 a.m. Friday, 90 minutes after ...

Lawyer views high court appeal of Area 51 lawsuit a longshot

Fri, Aug 7, 1998

Even the attorney representing workers at a top-secret Air Force base 100 miles north of Las Vegas says his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is a long shot.

Workers' attorney appeals to Supreme Court in Area 51 case

Wed, Aug 5, 1998

"What happened was an outrage, and we will remain active in pursuing justice," Turley said Monday.

Group protests secrecy of Area 51

Sun, Jun 7, 1998

The workers attempted to sue the federal government, but U.S. District Judge Philip Pro of Las Vegas threw out the lawsuit in March 1996 on grounds it presented a risk ...

Toxic data at Area 51 ruled confidential

Thu, Jan 8, 1998

Bob Egelko

Lawyers for five current and former workers at the base, and the widows of two workers allegedly killed by toxic wastes, are not entitled to learn whether hazardous substances exist ...