Area 51 — facts, records and what is confirmed
Area 51 is a U.S. Air Force site in Nevada, long denied then officially acknowledged by the CIA in 2013 through declassified documents. This page separates what is documented — U-2 and A-12 spy-plane testing — from the surrounding UFO mythology.
Related files
Frequently asked questions
Is Area 51 real?
Yes. The CIA confirmed its existence in 2013 in declassified documents. It is a secret aircraft test site, not an alien museum.
Why is Area 51 linked to UFOs?
Tests of highly advanced spy planes (U-2, A-12) triggered many UFO reports in the 1950s-60s, which fed the legend.


