Given the secrecy surrounding Area 51, it's easy to understand why it's the target of conspiracy theories even before Bushman's revelations. The base was founded as a testing site in 1955 when the U.S. was still developing the U2 spy plane. read more
The beginning of Area 51 is directly related to the development of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. After World War II, the Soviet Union lowered the Iron Curtain around themselves and the rest of the Eastern bloc, creating a near intelligence blackout to the rest of the world. read more
Yelling Area 51 while running around naked with your hair on fire tends to go against that basic rule. One idea that was put forward to back the cover story idea is that the flying saucer story at Area 51 is one that would attract Russian spies who would get caught outside the base. read more
Area 51. Dreamland is the code name for Area 51. Area 51 is a"secret" military base located about 90 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is also known as Groom Lake, named for the dry lake bed the military base is sitting on. The size of the base is six miles wide by ten miles long. read more