How To Find Area 51 On Google Maps – Sightseeing with Google

Wonder how to find area 51 on google maps? Beyond the facade of glittering lights that Sin City has to offer lies government secrecy so classified that its existence was denied for several decades.

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About 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, past the virtually deserted town of Rachel is the military test facility of Groom Lake referred to by most as Area 51. Also called Dreamland, Paradise Ranch and Watertown by the military and CIA, the precise name of Area 51's operating location is Detachment 3, Air Force Flight Test Center.

The origins of the name 'Area 51' are still unknown but most speculate that it is derived from its placement on Nevada Test Site Maps in the fifties. Groom Lake, the very reason Nevada is known as the “Silver State”, was originally a silver-mining district.

During World War II, the salt flat transformed itself into an airfield with two runways called Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field. Due to its flat lake bed, the area was conducive to pilot training in addition to bombs and artillery testing.

As relationships between the United States and the Soviet Union declined in the eighties, Area 51 also played a role in the Cold War by using captured Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 21 jet fighters and other lethal weaponry for research and simulated combat training.

Despite its involvement with major events in United States history, Area 51 still technically did not exist until 2013. While it was formally declassified in 1997, the activities within its walls were still confidential.

Finally, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, 355 documents were released in 2013 and the CIA officially acknowledged its existence.Of course the nature of Area 51's 38,400 acres of secrecy has fascinated many and countless attempts have been made to see beyond the security gates of the facility.

In the event of trespass, trained security are authorized to use deadly force and shoot on sight. While tourists and extraterrestrial aficionados have attempted such bravery, all have been forced out of the perimeter at gunpoint. As far as the public knows, Area 51 security have not yet resorted to deadly force but fines on some occasions have been issued to offenders.

For those up to the challenge, be warned that while rumors of extraterrestrial activity and the allure of absolute secrecy can be captivating, the drive to Groom Lake from Las Vegas is over 100 miles of desert with little opportunity to find gas, food and water along the way.

While popular for its Area 51 tour, the town of Rachel does not have a gas station and tourists are encouraged to fill up in Alamo from the east or Tonopah from the west.

Little A'Le Inn, the only known establishment in Rachel, offers the basics of a small town motel complete with extraterrestrial themed merchandise available for purchase. Little A'Le Inn also offers the Area 51 tour, which does not cross any security lines but does visit locations of recent UFO sightings.

How To Find Area 51 On Google Maps

Movies and television shows including Independence Day and the X-Files were also filmed at this site. To find Area 51 without a special tour, look no further than Google Maps. Simply type in “Groom Lake, Nevada, Lincoln County, NV, USA”.

The location will then show up with a photo of the security signs in front of the facility. Move your mouse south until you find a crater-like location titled “Nevada National Security Site Device”.

By clicking and zooming in on this location, you will see an aerial view of the air force runway and facilities. Zooming out further reveals the large expanse of surrounding desert.

While the location of Area 51 itself is fairly easy to find on maps, the journey to the actual site will be less than desirable, considering there will be nothing entertaining along the way. The city of Rachel has a population of 54 people according to the 2010 census. Residents of Rachel who do not work for the United States Government are involved in ranching and live in mobile homes.

There isn't even a school that exists in Rachel and children need to be bused to Alamo, Nevada; an unincorporated town with an area of a littler over 30 miles. A gift, however, was recently given to the town of Rachel: a time capsule from the producers of Independence Day, forever sealing the extraterrestrial theme of the town.