Inside the World's Most Famous Secret Base

For decades, the United States government refused to acknowledge the existence of **Area 51**, a remote military detachment nestled in the dry lakebed of Groom Lake in southern Nevada.

In August 2013, following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by George Washington University, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) declassified a 400-page history officially acknowledging the base and detailing its role as a premier testing facility for top-secret reconnaissance aircraft.

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What Has Actually Been Developed Here?

1. **U-2 Dragon Lady (1955)**:

The original catalyst for the base. Built under the supervision of legendary Lockheed engineer Kelly Johnson at 'Skunk Works'.

2. **SR-71 Blackbird (1962)**:

The legendary Mach 3.2 titanium spy plane that flew at 85,000 feet, outrunning surface-to-air missiles over Soviet territory.

3. **F-117 Nighthawk (1977)**:

The world's first operational stealth strike fighter, tested entirely under cover of moonless desert nights.

4. **B-2 Spirit & Next-Gen Drones (RQ-170, NGAD)**:

Stealth bombers and unmanned hypersonic spy platforms tested in restricted airspace R-4808N.

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Visiting the Perimeter: The Extraterrestrial Highway

While entering the base is prohibited under threat of deadly force, adventure travelers can explore the perimeter:

- **Rachel, Nevada**: The closest settlement, home to the famous Little A'Le'Inn diner.

- **The Black Mailbox**: Historic meeting waypoint for stargazers and aviation enthusiasts along Route 375.

- **Tikaboo Peak**: The only legal vantage point where civilians can view the distant runways with powerful telephoto spotting scopes.