Area 51 Declassified

Overview

Highly classified United States Air Force facility in Nevada. Long rumored to be a site for extraterrestrial research and reverse-engineering of alien spacecraft.

Investigation

Decades of secrecy fueled public speculation. The CIA officially acknowledged its existence in 2013, confirming its purpose was for the development of reconnaissance aircraft like the U-2.

Why it matters

A symbol of government secrecy and UFO conspiracy theories. Its acknowledgment, while clarifying its official purpose, did little to quell public fascination with its alleged alien connections.