Selects: How Area 51 Works

Area 51's origins as a highly secretive military research site are rooted in its transformation from a World War II bombing range to a Cold War era spy plane development hub.

Nevada Test Range Becomes Secretive Research Site

World War II Nevada Bombing Range Became Nuclear Test Site

During World War II, the Nevada bombing range was primarily used for artillery and bombing practice. But with the advent of the Cold War, and the need for a secure location to develop and test nuclear technology and advanced reconnaissance aircraft, the site began to evolve.

In the 1950s, the CIA and Lockheed Skunk Works Chose the Remote Groom Lake Area in the Nevada Test Range to Develop the U-2 Spy Plane Because of Its Isolation and Restricted Airspace

The remote Groom Lake area within the Nevada Test Range was particularly attractive to organizations like the CIA and Lockheed's Skunk Works division. They chose this site in the 1950s for the development of the U-2 spy plane, capitalizing on its isolation and already restricted airspace that could ensure the secrecy of their undertakings.

Efforts to Conceal Activities At Area 51

The U.S. government took serious measures to maintain the confidentiality of operations at Area 51.

Cover Story: CIA and Skunk Works' "Paradise Ranch" for Munitions Cleanup

Initially, the CIA and Lockheed Skunk Works cloaked their activity under the guise of “Paradise Ranch,” claiming their presence was for munitions cleanup. This cover story was part of the broader effort to mislead and conceal the actual happenings within the perimeters of Area 51.

Strict Security Included Gunpoint Questioning and Segregation During Test Flights

In 1962, as the importance of Area 51 grew, the infrastructure expanded and the government established more restrictive airspace over the site, cementing its permanent status as a secretive location. Workers at the base faced extreme security measures, including gunpoint interrogations and loyalty tests to ensure they were not spies. Those not as ...

The hosts delve into the history of Area 51 and the rise of alien conspiracy theories following incidents of government secrecy, most notably the U-2 incident and the claims of Bob Lazar.

U-2 Incident's Impact on Public Awareness of Government Secrecy

1960 U-2 Spy Plane Shootdown Exposes CIA's Secret Program, Shattering Public Trust

The U-2 incident of 1960, where a U.S. spy plane was shot down by the Soviet Union, significantly affected the public's trust in government and the CIA's secret activities. The U-2 program's secrecy was compromised after the shootdown of the spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers. The incident was a humiliating event that heightened the American public's awareness of secretive technology projects that the government was undertaking and laid the groundwork for future conspiracy theories surrounding Area 51.

Incident Sparked Suspicions of Government Secretive Activities, Fueling Area 51 Conspiracy Theories

This event, coupled with the fact that tests from Area 51 could be seen from Las Vegas, may have contributed to public suspicion and curiosity. Afterward, the U.S. government moved forward with more secret projects under Project Oxcart, further fueling conspiracy theories about Area 51. The hosts comment on the mundane reality that Area 51's activities likely involve secret government research and that the site also serves as a distraction for undisclosed locations.

Bob Lazar Interview: Area 51, Alien Tech, and UFOs

Bob Lazar, Alleged Ex-Area 51 Employee, Claimed In 1989 to Have Reverse-Engineered Alien Spacecraft on Las Vegas News

Bob Lazar, who claimed to be a former employee at Area 51, alleged in a 1989 interview that he had worked on reverse-engineering alien spacecraft. Lazar shared details of his supposed experience, including being left alone with files that detailed alien technology and autopsies. He described anti-gravitational propulsion technology and an experiment demonstrating the repulsion effect of the alien tech on a golf ball.

Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark debate Lazar's claims, including his description of advanced technology at a time when the internet, which could provide such information, was not widely available. Despite the lack of evidence, such as academic records from MIT or Caltech where Lazar claimed to have studied, these allegations tied Area 51 to extraterrestrial technology and UFOs, especially during a period in the U.S. when interest in UFOs was peaking.

Lazar's Claims, Lacking Evidence, Tied Area 51 To Extraterrestrial Technology and Activities

Lazar's story initially didn’t create substantial waves, as it was aired on loc ...

The government's acknowledgment of Area 51 follows a troubled history marked by lawsuits and the advent of satellite technology which made the existence of the previously denied site part of public knowledge.

Legal Battle Over Worker Exposure to Hazardous Materials

Area 51 Workers Sue Over Toxic Exposure

In the mid-1990s, Area 51 workers sued the government over hazardous waste burning that caused an environmental disaster onsite. Workers, including Robert Frost, were sickened by inhaling fumes from the burned waste, which included various classified materials.

Government Once Denied Area 51, Later Acknowledged In Court; Refuses Hazardous Material Details

The lawsuit saw the workers seek not financial compensation, but knowledge about the substances that were killing them. Throughout the trial, government representatives refused to disclose the site's existence, citing national security concerns under the "Mosaic Theory." The government argued that revealing any detail, even about chemicals, could help enemies piece together activities occurring in Area 51. Despite ultimately admitting to Area 51’s existence in court, the government kept the details of the hazardous materials secret, leaving the workers untreated.

Area 51 Visibility Rise Via Satellite Imagery and Public Access

Private Satellite Launches Made Government Concealment of Area 51 Difficult, Increasing Public Awareness

The hosts explain that Area 51 has expanded over the years, evident from satellite images showing new buildings. Initially, the government controlled all satellite imagery and could obscure Area 51 from the public’s eye. However, with private companies launching their own satellites, it became increasingly diffic ...