One fateful day in 1947 first contact was made. A UFO crashed in Roswell, the little green (or are they gray?) men were captured, the flying saucer was stored in secret in Area 51 in Nevada. Then in 1996, the aliens returned obliterated all the major cities, but the world was ultimately saved on Independence Day by Will Smith at his coolest and some 1990s computer virus.

But what really happened in Roswell? Today one can go there and sleuth out its secrets, perhaps one of its main attractions is the International UFO Museum and Research Center and Gift Shop as well as guided tours of the various points of interest. See here for 11 things you didn't know about Area 51.

The Intriguing History Of Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell is a town of around 50,000 people (enough to make it the fifth-largest city in New Mexico). The Roswell UFO incident happened around 75 miles out of the town. Today much of its tourist economy steams from ufology (the investigations of UFOs by those thinking they could be extraterrestrial), alien-themed and spacecraft-themed iconography, as well more conventional aerospace engineering.

  • Crash Site: About 75 Miles Out
  • Population: Around 50,000 In Roswell

What We Know Of The Incident

Like magic tricks, the truth often turns out to be anti-climatic and mundane. A mind-blogging and bewildering magic trick is often nothing more than a slight of hands. The Roswell incident of 1947 is believed to have been nothing more than an Air Force balloon crash in a ranch. For many, that's just too boring to believe.

For the last 65 or so years, that fateful balloon has defined the town. It has spawned countless conspiracy theories and pop culture - cumulating with Will Smith punching aliens in the desert "Welcome to earth."

Related: 10 Well-Documented Alien Encounters And Where To Chase Them

One of the reasons for the flying saucer story was that the Army Air Field issued a press release stating they had recovered a "flying disc". They quickly retracted that statement and said it was a conventional weather balloon. But apparently for many believe a balloon is less credible than an extraterrestrial spacecraft.  The conspiracy theories took flight in the 1970s when a retired lieutenant colonel stated that it was a cover story (perhaps it was an experimental aircraft?).

  • Official Reason: In 1994 the Air Force Publish A Report Identifying the Object As A Nuclear Test Surveillance Balloon From Project Mogul
  • Alien Bodies: According To Another Air Force Report, in 1997 Reports Of Alien Bodies Probably Stem From Test Dummies Dropped From High Altitude

Today UFO tourism is a big thing in Roswell. Whether one buys the Air Force story or if one finds Agent Mulder's hunch of a more grandiose "truth is out there", more believable, the attractions here (and alien-themed restaurants) are well worth a visit. Believe it or not, there are reports of aliens visiting countries other than the United States, see here for other places to find aliens outside of Area 51.

International UFO Museum and Research Center and Gift Shop

The UFO Museum is one of the main UFO attractions in the town.

  • Adult: Admission $5.00
  • Children: Admission $2.00
  • Open: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Daily
  • Closed: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Xmas Day, Early Closures At 3.00 pm the Day Before These Holidays
  • Covid-19: As At The Time Of Writing All Visitors Must Wear A Facemask Regardless Of Vaccination Status

The Museum states that it was organized to inform the public about what really happened in that incident.

"The Museum endeavors to be the leading information source in history, science, and research about UFO events worldwide... The International UFO Museum's constituents are committed to gathering and disbursing to all interested parties in the most qualified and up-to-date information available."

Check out their website for their telling of what happened during the incident here.

Related: 10 Travel Destinations Where People Have Claimed to Have Seen UFOs

UFO Tours In Roswell

If one wants a guided tour of all the UFO sites and the like, then that is also an option. One can visit over 20 sites connected to the Roswell UFO incident - as well as some of Roswell's historic sites. The tour even includes visiting the former site of the base Hospital where "Alien autopsies took place". See where the debris was loaded and the hangar where "Alien bodies and craft were kept" before being sent to research centers.

  • Tour Cost: $100.00
  • Includes: Transport For Up To 4 People

For more information and booking a tour, see Roswell UFO Tours.

In Roswell, there are other UFO museums (like the Roswell Space Center) and many themed restaurants, gift shops, and the like. If one is passing through be sure to check up on the pop history of little green men visiting and crashing into the earth. As well as the military experimenting on aliens and aliens abducting and experimenting on humans. Who doesn't want to believe?

Next: What We Know About Area 51 And What We'd Like To Know If We Could Visit