Area 51 Museum Exhibit Features UFOs and Aliens

The National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas has opened a new exhibit called Area 51: Myth or Reality, and just as abundant as datasheets and pictures on high tech aircraft are UFOs and aliens.

Area 51 is a super secret test facility on the Air Force’s Nevada Test and Training Range. High tech aircraft such as the SR-71 blackbird and stealth were developed there. It is a highly secure area with signs warning trespassers that deadly force is authorized.
Area 51 warning sign. Image Credit: X5/Flikr

Local investigative journalist George Knapp made the site famous when he broke the story of alleged secret projects at the base of an extraterrestrial nature. He was approached by a man named Bob Lazar who claims to have worked at Area 51, where he was involved with a project to reverse engineer an alien spacecraft. Knapp’s efforts have been rewarded with his own room in the exhibit. News headlines cover the walls of the room chronicling Knapp’s investigation of Lazar’s claims.

The exhibit opened a couple of months ago with a special press conference featuring engineers who worked at area 51, George Knapp, and Col. John Alexander. Alexander is a retired colonel who conducted his own investigation into rumors of a vast government UFO conspiracy. He found no such evidence, however, he does believe the UFO mystery is a real phenomenon. As far as the military, he thinks they are just as baffled by UFOs as everyone else.

Since the opening, the museum has continues hosting lectures. Knapp presented a month ago and just this week Alexander held a talk that he says was standing room only.
Area 51 exhibit entrance at the National Atomic Testing Museum. Image Credit: Alejandro Rojas

I was able to visit the Area 51 exhibit recently, and it was quite an experience for a museum. I guess I should not have expected less, it’s Vegas. It starts off at a metal door with a guard in military khakis. Once your credentials are cleared you enter a dark room where a mysterious man in black on a monitor debriefs you. You then continue down dark corridors with UFO videos, pictures and information. There is even an alien on a gurney. The Area 51 developed aircraft is towards the end.

The tour finally ends with a very creative trick of the eye that I found really impressive. I don’t want to say much more for fear of giving up too much confidential information. That man in black was kinda creepy. I don’t want to get on his bad side.

The National Atomic Testing Museum is a very impressive place, backed by the Smithsonian. Although some of their Area 51 display is tongue and cheek, they take the UFO subject seriously. It is definitely worth the visit on your next trek to Las Vegas. Heck, we all need a Vegas trip at least once in awhile, right? Perhaps visiting a museum for a special exhibit can serve as the pretense to help justify your next vacation of drunken debauchery.