Roswell, New Mexico

If you believe in aliens or are just curious about UFOs, you absolutely must visit Roswell, New Mexico, at some point in your life. This little desert town is the birthplace of America’s UFO history and one of the biggest conspiracy theories in American history.

​In 1947, a UFO is believed to have crashed here. When the wreckage was discovered, it was quickly collected and covered up by the government and military. Throughout the decades since, more and more information has come out about this and other alien encounters making it seem more real than ever.

The town of Roswell has completely embraced this story. Every storefront, piece of graffiti, and sidewalk is riddled with pictures of little green beings or UFO landings. It is incredibly fun to walk explore. ​

​Here are things you can do to get the most “alien encounters” out of a trip to Roswell:

UFO Festival

• Every year during the first weekend of July, Roswell hosts a wild festival that attracts researchers, astrologers, and conspiracy theorists alike! They host talks and events all around town, including at the Robert H. Goddard Planetarium. Go dressed as an alien and be part of the parade and all the fun during the weekend.
• See the events for this years festival on their website and instagram pages: https://www.ufofestival.com/

International UFO Museum

• No matter when you visit, a trip to Roswell isn’t complete without a tour of The International UFO Museum. Not only does it chronicle the 1947 crash in Roswell in great detail, but it also covers other close encounters of all kinds from across the world and human history. It is lots of fun for both kids and adults alike. Plus, it only costs $7 to enter! 
• Learn more about the museum on their website here: https://www.roswellufomuseum.com/

Take a Tour

• You can take a guided tour with the official Roswell UFO Tour company. They will show you around town, explain Roswell’s military history before and after the crash, and talk about the atomic bombing force – the 509th Bomb Group, that was stationed at Roswell Army Air Field. The tour lasts around 2 hours and is usually given on an air conditioned bus ride. 
• Book a time slot on their website: https://roswellufotour.com/

Try to locate the crash site

• This is mostly frowned upon because the crash site is on private land, but it didn’t stop my husband and I from at least driving up and down the roads and seeing if we could see anything suspicious. Because it is on private land, and since the government / military doesn’t want anyone discovering anything they haven't found themselves, the actual location of the crash area is highly debated. Some believe it occurred on West Pine Lodge Road, while others claim it happened right off Highway 285. I say, search for yourself and see if you can find any last bits of debris that no one else has discovered! ​

​Other interesting, but not alien-related things to do close to Roswell:

Atlas Missile Silos 

• This site, along with dozens of other across the country, popped up during The Cold War to test and prototype many different kinds of missiles - including the first known intercontinental ballistic missiles. You can see a placard and actually sleep in an Airbnb that is housed in one of the silos! The areas are privately owned now so it is very hard to walk around and see inside.
• Book a stay inside the missile silo here: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/46711243?source_impression_id=p3_1692825934_i%2FyqncbERkgwUEYv

Photo from Airbnb

Walker Aviation Museum 

• Learn about the men and women who served at the Roswell Air Force Base between 1916-1967 including the 93rd Bomb Squadron who were the only combat unit ever to have dropped atomic bombs on enemy targets. The history of the airbase is rich through WWII, The Cold War, and Korean War with training brigades and many new technologies coming from Roswell.
• Spend a day at the aviation museum and learn more about the history on their website here: http://www.wafbmuseum.org/

The Trinity Site

• Moving further away from the town of Roswell, you can find an interesting placard marking the first testing site of a nuclear bomb. Normally, the site is closed to the public, but on the first Sunday of every April, there is a tour given at Ground Zero (above ground) about how it was assembled and tested. 
• You can learn more about this National Historic Landmark on The National Park Service’s website: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/historyculture/trinity-site.htm​

White Sands National Park 

• Go hiking or sandboarding in the world’s largest gypsum dunefield at White Sands National Park. People have been visiting the area for over 10,000 years trying to learn about and see the wonders of the vast white desert. See wildlife, take a paleontology ranger-led talk, or wander through the backcountry in this one of a kind national park.

Plan your own visit to White Sands through The NPS website: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm

Photo from NPS.gov

More things to do in New Mexico: