Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Area 51 is situated 120 miles northwest of Las Vegas, near Rachel and Hiko, Nevada. Originally designated on Atomic Energy Commission maps, it remains part of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS).
Established in 1955 as part of the Nevada Test and Training Range complex, the area was nicknamed “Paradise Ranch” by Lockheed Martin to attract aerospace employees.
Spanning over 90,000 acres, Area 51 is a restricted military installation. It features strict security measures including motion sensors, cameras, and armed patrols with authorization to use deadly force.
Initially used for testing the U-2 spy plane, Area 51 has been a proving ground for advanced aircraft such as the SR-71 Blackbird and the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter.
Area 51 gained notoriety due to conspiracy theories linking it with UFO sightings and alien technology, fueled by its secrecy and restricted access.
In 2013, the U.S. government acknowledged Area 51’s existence following the declassification of documents related to the U-2 spy plane.
Despite satellite visibility on platforms like Google Maps since 2018, public access remains prohibited, enforced by stringent warnings against trespassing and photography.
Robert Lazar’s 1989 claims of working with extraterrestrial technology at Area 51 further popularized the base’s association with UFOs, despite later debunking of his credentials.
Area 51 has become a fixture in pop culture, appearing prominently in films like “Independence Day” and TV series such as “The X-Files” and “Agents of Shield.”
In 2019, a viral social media event called “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us” attracted global attention, although only a small number of people participated in the actual event, leading to a quirky, yet uneventful gathering in the nearby town of Rachel.