FAQ: Is it really called Area 51 ?


Is it really called Area 51 ?

No, not any more. The name Area 51 originated from old maps of the Nevada Test Site from the 1950's. On these maps, the land around Groom Lake and Papoose Lake was marked as Area 51.

The Groom Lake Base was first named Watertown, after CIA Director Allen Dulles' birthplace: Watertown, New York. In June of 1958, in preparation for the Lockheed A-12 Oxcart project, a 38,400 acre section of land around Watertown and Groom Lake was withdrawn from public land and designated Area 51. This designation was officially used until the late 1980's, during the time when the base was mostly controlled by the DoD and CIA. After the Air Force took over in the late 1980's, the name changed to Air Force Flight Test Center, Detachment 3, or short AFFTC Det. 3. This is still the official designation of the Groom Lake Air Force Base today.

However, Area 51 is still commonly used to refer to the base. Other names include Dreamland, the Ranch, Paradise Ranch, the Box and several others.


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