Declassified Files & Eyewitness Accounts Fill This Museum in New Mexico’s Ground Zero for UFOs

The International UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico

Welcome to a close encounter of the museum kind, aka the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, NM. Whether you’re a believer or not, it’s actually a pretty cool stop. Here are some interesting facts about the museum inspired by the infamous Roswell Incident.

Roswell Before The Aliens

Before the whole UFO thing, Roswell was just a regular ranching town in 1869. Then WWII put it on the map when the Roswell Army Air Field became a big deal for training bomber crews.

These days, about 48,000 folks call it home. Dairy farms and pecan groves keep the economy going alongside the tourist dollars. The town hosts one of the oldest military high schools in the country and the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art and the Roswell Museum and Art Center.

The 1947 Crash That Started It All

Everything started with whatever crashed during that storm in July ’47, about 75 miles outside town. Some rancher named Mac Brazel stumbled across weird debris all over his property and reported it.

Next thing you know, the military announces they found a “flying disc,” then quickly changes their story to “just a weather balloon.” The museum’s got original newspapers, witness statements (Major Jesse Marcel), and timelines laid out.

You’ll get to read about Project Mogul, a top-secret military program involving high-altitude balloons (to detect Soviet nuclear tests), is believed to be linked to this incident.

The Museum Was Founded by Believers

Three guys who were there during the ’47 incident started this museum in ’91. Walter Haut was the military PR guy who wrote the flying-disc press release.

Glenn Dennis was the mortician who got weird calls about kid-sized caskets after the crash. The third founder, Max Littell, was a local businessman who wanted the truth preserved.

They started in a tiny storefront before moving to the theater building in ’97. Under their guidance, the museum grew from a small collection of newspaper clippings to the comprehensive research center it is today.

One of the Founders Actually Broke the “Flying Disc” News

Walter Haut wasn’t just any founder, he wrote the press release that blew this thing wide open. His boss, Colonel William Blanchard, ordered him to announce they’d recovered a “flying disc” on July 8, 1947.

Haut kept his mouth shut for decades like a good military man. Before he died in 2005, he left a sealed statement saying he’d seen alien bodies and a spacecraft at the base. The museum displays Haut’s military records, personal effects, and copies of the original press release he authored.

The Library is Out of This World

Behind the scenes lies a UFO researcher’s dream, a plethora of historical records on famous incidents like the Roswell Crash and Area 51.

Serious investigators travel cross-country to dig through government files obtained through Freedom of Information requests. Scientific papers, eyewitness accounts, the works.

And the collection keeps growing, making it probably the best resource anywhere for UFO research. A dedicated librarian maintains the collection and assists both casual visitors and serious researchers in navigating the extensive archive.

Life-Size Alien On A Dissection Table

The creepiest part? That alien autopsy display with its dead ET on a dissection table. The Museum doesn’t pretend it’s real, they admit it’s a prop from the ’94 Showtime movie “Roswell: The UFO Coverup.”

Still, seeing that gray-skinned body with the oversized head and huge eyes gives you chills. The exhibit is complemented by information about the alleged medical examinations performed on recovered alien bodies.

A Wall of Newspapers About the Roswell Incident

Nothing beats standing in front of that wall of newspapers from July ’47. Hard to miss that massive Roswell Daily Record headline: “RAAF Captures Flying Saucer On Ranch in Roswell Region.” Right next to it?

The embarrassing retraction claimed it was “just a weather balloon.” You can track how the government kept changing its story over decades, from weather balloon, then Project Mogul to test dummies.

From Alien Evidence to Ancient History

The museum also presents proof from ancient cultures. For instance, it goes way back with a full-size copy of that famous Mayan tomb lid from Palenque. This tomb lid, dating from around 683 CE, is often cited by proponents of the ancient astronaut theory.

The Nebra Sky Disc, an ancient bronze artifact discovered in Germany, dates back to around 1600 BCE. Various other artifacts from different cultures depict disc-shaped objects in the sky with unique explanations.

The 14th-century painting from the “The Annunciation” by Piero della Francesca, which some theorists suggest shows a UFO hovering over the Virgin Mary.

The July UFO Festival Draws Huge Crowds

Come July, this four-day festival weekend pulls in 15,000+ people to mark the crash anniversary. Famous researchers will give talks, authors sign books, and panels debate whether we’re alone in the universe.

The alien costume contest and Main Street parade are packed with folks in crazy outfits. Local shops go all-out with alien decorations. Book your hotel months ahead because the tiny Roswell fills up fast when the alien hunters arrive.

Visiting the International UFO Museum

Ten bucks gets adults in, less for seniors, military folks, and kids. Most people spend about 90 minutes looking around. There’s wheelchair accessibility everywhere.

Hit the gift shop for some serious UFO books and goofy alien souvenirs. The archives are available to researchers, and appointments can be made in advance to access more extensive materials.

The museum’s central location in downtown Roswell also places you within walking distance of restaurants, hotels, and other alien-themed attractions that have sprung up around it.