Area 51.
Area 51, also known by various names such as Dreamland, Watertown, The Ranch, Paradise Ranch, The Farm, The Box, Groom Lake, Neverland, or The Directorate for Development Plans Area, is a secretive military base located in Nevada, United States. It serves as a testing ground for experimental devices and technologies.
The ufological community often speculates and develops conspiracy theories about the alleged covert connections between the American military and extraterrestrial beings. Area 51 has gained particular notoriety due to its association with such claims.
The history of Groom Lake, the area where Area 51 is situated, dates back to early spring in 1955. During this time, the CIA was in search of a suitable location to test Lockheed's newly developed spy plane, the U-2. The chosen site needed to be secluded to ensure privacy and have a long and durable runway capable of accommodating the weight of the new aircraft. Additionally, proximity to a military administration for logistical support and ample fuel reserves were essential factors. While Edwards Air Force Base, renowned for testing experimental aircraft, was initially considered, it was eventually rejected due to the high level of secrecy required. Edwards had already garnered significant attention and was subject to considerable scrutiny.
*Please note that while the historical information about the establishment of Area 51 is accurate, the conspiracy theories and claims regarding extraterrestrial involvement are highly controversial and lack substantial evidence supported by mainstream scientific and governmental sources.
Legend
# Building # Comments
1,110 Quick Kill Radar Site
2,200 Hangar 4
3,202 Hangar 5
4,208 Hangar 6
5,206 Hangar 7
6,217-220 Old U-2 hangars
7,265 Base Supply and Administration Building
8,275 Consolidated Services Facility
9,299 Test Engineering Support Center
10 300-335 Dormitories
11 400-404 Janet Terminal
12 285 Shipping and Receiving Facility
13 430 Hangar 18
14 431-432 Hangar 18 support buildings
15 437 Fire Station #2 15
438 PE Building ("Personal Equipment", flight preparation)
16 443 Hangar 8
16a 441,442,444 Hangar 8 support buildings
17 Hangars 20 and 21
18 Hangars 22 and 23
19 Hangars 20-23 storage building
20 470 Hangar 17
21A 480 Hangars 16 and 15
21B 480 Hangars 14 and 13
21C 482 Hangars 12 and 11
21D 482 Hangars 10 and 9
22,485 Weapons Bunker
23,730 Hangar 19, Arm/De-Arm, Scoot-n-Hide
24,710 Control Tower
25,123 Dish Antenna Building
26 120 Range Maintenance Shop
27 122 Range BE Office
28 131?
29 130 DYCOMS Radar Building
30 DYCOMS Dish
31 Helicopter Ramp
32,103 Red Hat Quonset Storage
33,100,101 Hangar 2, Red Hat Storage
34,267 Dining Hall
35,269 Old Base Headquarters
36,170 Sam's Place, Gym and Swimming Pool
37 Baseball field
38 Water Tower
39,410 Photo Lab and Precision Measurement Equipment Lab (PMEL)
40 412 Main Security Building
41 447 Compressor Building
42 476 Steam Plant
43 New Scoot-n-Hide shelter
44 213 Fire Station #1
45 Runway 14L/32R (new runway)
46 Runway 14R/32L (old runway, no longer used)
47 Southern Taxiway and Runway 12 /30
48 New Center Taxiway (Spring 2003)
49 New Quonset Hut (2003)
50 Workshops (?)
51 Unknown use
52 Old Toxic Waste burning pits
53 New smaller building (2003) with indications of a larger underground structure, possibly
a new buried tank. Underground lines leading to #20, 41 and 42 from here.
54 New Twin Hangar (Late 2002/Early 2003)
55 New Hangar east of Hangar 9 (Spring 2005)
56 New Extension to Hangar 19 (Spring 2005)
57 New Extension to Hangar 19 (Spring 2005)
58 New tower structure near RCS range ( Late 2005)
59 New Base Headquarters (2005)
60 New building east of Hangar 17 (2005)
61 New large hangar (Spring/Summer 2007)
62 New large hangar at the South Ramp (Winter 2009 - Spring 2010)
