Library of Congress: UFOs and Aliens Among Us

Above, yours truly at the International UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico.

The Library of Congress has hoards of documents (and, I guess, books) on all kinds of topics.

One topic is of UFOs and Aliens Among us. 

I perused a webpage from the Library of Congress on UFOs and Aliens and it is loaded with additional pages on UF0-related subject matter.

The page begins with:

UFOs and Aliens Among Us

In the 1940s and 50s reports of "flying saucers" became an American cultural phenomena. Sightings of strange objects in the sky became the raw materials for Hollywood to present visions of potential threats. Posters for films, like Earth vs. the Flying Saucers from 1956 illustrate these fears.  Connected to ongoing ideas about life on the Moon, the canals on Mars, and ideas about Martian Civilizations, flying saucers have come to represent the hopes and fears of the modern world.

Are these alleged visitors from other worlds peaceful and benevolent or would they attack and destroy humanity? The destructive power of the Atomic bomb called into question the progressive potential of technology. Fear of the possibilities for destruction in the Cold War-era proved fertile ground for terrestrial anxieties to manifest visions of flying saucers and visitors from other worlds who might be hidden among us in plain sight.

For those who want to delve deeper into aliens and UFOs, go here. 

Remember, Keep Watching the Skies!

Wacky, Weird UFO Sites To Visit In the U.S.

Above, yours truly at the Roswell International UFO Museum in 2018.

Before he passed away last October, Russell Azbill and I regularly discussed all kinds of topics of the paranormal. Subjects ranged from ghosts, bigfoot and Unidentified Flying Objects. He personally saw the "Phoenix Lights" back in the 1990s.

I have been interested in UFOs since about high school. Eight years ago, my former roommate Jessica and I went down to Roswell, New Mexico for the annual Roswell UFO Festival. We both had a fun time.

Above, the 2018 Roswell UFO Festival. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Travel, in today's newsletter, posted an article on weird, wacky UFO sites to visit. 

They begin it with:

As of November 2024, the Pentagon has analyzed 1,652 reports of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs). Of those, 757 were recorded between May 2023 and June 2024, with 21 still classified as unexplained. Even if you’re not a UFO enthusiast, this is certainly intriguing. It reminds me of the fascinating places you can visit and learn more about UFOs right here in the USA.

What is a UFO?

Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are not new. The first alleged UFO sighting in the United States dates back to the 1890s! Since that time, there have been many, many reported sightings from Washington to Maine and New Mexico to Indiana, with places in between, as well.

A Gallup poll taken in 2021 found that four out of ten Americans believe that UFOs are alien spacecraft from other planets. Recent sentiment seems to indicate that the number is rising—especially given the latest news. No matter what your position may be, there are UFO sighting locations throughout the USA. Here are just two places to consider adding to your next RV trip.

To read more, go here. 

Inside The "Alien Autopsy" Video

Above, the alien autopsy display at the Roswell International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Remember the alien autopsy video that surfaced back around 1995 during the heyday of Art Bell's Coast-To-Coast radio show?

Well, the video has resurfaced again. 

With interest in UFOs (or UAPs) rising thanks to information being released by the government, the video has been dusted off and brought out again.

The Daily Mail (U.K.) posted an article on this and it begins with:

An 18-minute video of an alleged alien autopsy that sent the world into a frenzy decades ago has resurfaced as investigations into UFOs have reached a fever pitch.

The shocking film, showing three people in hazmat suits dissecting what appeared to be an alien body from the 1947 Roswell crash in New Mexico, was originally released in 1995.

The grainy black-and-white footage was televised worldwide, revealing a humanoid figure with a large head and dark eyes being cut open, further fueling the growing speculation of a government cover-up.

Millions of viewers were fascinated because the film seemed to prove that aliens existed, especially as shows like The X-Files were becoming a cultural phenomenon.

Years later, however, the film's producers admitted it was all a sophisticated hoax filmed in a London apartment using animal parts and plastic casts.

Despite their confession, questions remained, as one of the filmmakers behind the fake alien autopsy claimed the video was based on a real recording of scientists examining the remains of a dead extraterrestrial.

The film has now surged back into the public conversation about alien life, thanks to a new docuseries that is set to explore this mystery, diving into the video's creation 30 years ago and its lasting impact on UFO culture.

Above, yours truly with a couple of aliens at the 2018 Roswell UFO Festival.

To read more, go here. 

Must-Visit Quirky Roadside Attractions For RVers

Above, a replica of Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) at the
International UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In the 1983 movie, National Lampoon's Vacation, the World's Largest Ball of Twine is mentioned. Unfortunately, it was not shown.

But it also gets a mention in a new article in RV Life. It is on RVing through quirky America of must-see roadside attractions. Many of the attractions mentioned do have RV parking.

I have been to some of them such as the International UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico and the Giant Paul Bunyan and Babe in Klamath, California. 

The article begins with:

One of the best parts about road-tripping in an RV is the ability to explore off the beaten path and find quirky things to see. My family loves doing this and some of our favorite memories come from stopping to see strange and interesting roadside attractions. That said, it’s not always easy to know where to find such attractions. That’s where this article comes into play. 

Below, I’ve listed some of the best quirky roadside attractions in the US. Some of these are things I’ve stopped to see. Others are things that are on my must-see list. In both cases, I feel like all of these attractions are worth adding to a trip itinerary to add a little spice to your travels. 

Why Quirk Belongs on Your RV Itinerary

Not sure why you might want to stop at some of these silly roadside attractions? Honestly, they’re mostly just for fun. They are easily accessible, perfect for breaking up long driving days and stretching your legs, and are often low-cost.

In many cases, roadside attractions also have big-rig parking, making them easy stops for RVers. You might also find that these stops offer plenty in the way of food and gas options, making them even more appealing.

To read more, go here.

WION: 7 Most Famous UFO Sightings of All Time

Above, a display at the Roswell International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The annual Roswell UFO Festival was held in the New Mexico city a couple of weeks ago. It celebrated the 78th anniversary of the famous "flying saucer" crash incident.

WION News posted on July 2 an article on the 7 most famous UFO sightings of all time. It includes Roswell.

It begins with:

For many years, people around the world have been fascinated by UFO sightings. These strange flying objects have sparked big questions: Are they alien spacecraft, top-secret military technology or just things people didn’t understand? No matter what the answer is but UFO sightings have become a big part of both science and pop culture. They’ve inspired movies, books and endless debates. Scientists continue to study them by hoping to learn more about what might be out there. Below are some of the most well-known and mysterious UFO cases in history:

To read the article, go here. 

Also, Atomic Robot blog has posted some interesting UFO stories that "are too strange to ignore". To read it, go here.

8 Best Things To Do In New Mexico

Above, Roswell, New Mexico's International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those wondering what to do during the coming summer vacation season, Lonely Planet has posted a list of 8 best things to do in New Mexico.

I have lived in the state for seven years and I've traveled around the state during that time. But that only scratched the surface.

Still, the things the list includes are worth considering.

They begin with:

They don’t call it the Land of Enchantment for nothing.

New Mexico does indeed entice, thanks to otherworldly desertscapes, weird rock formations and more wonders of nature you’ll find only here. Yet it’s perhaps the state’s unique culture – visible in the adobe architecture everywhere, quirky frontier towns, container loads of chile pepper and an abundance of preserved Indigenous history – that truly etch the 47th state into visitors’ memories.

No matter what time of year you visit, here are eight ways to begin getting to know this marvelous place. 

To read more, go here. 

World UFO Day 2024

Above, a crashed flying saucer display at the Roswell International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Did you know that today is World UFO Day.

What's World UFO Day?

According to the Business Standard:

Every year on July 2, people all over the planet observe World UFO Day. This extraordinary day is all about studying the Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and bringing people together to discuss possibilities of life beyond Earth. In 2024, World UFO Day falls on a Tuesday.

To listen for more, go here. 

Roswell UFO Festival Coming July 5 - 7

Above, yours truly at the Roswell Visitors Center in 2018.

That time of year is fast approaching.

The 2024 Roswell UFO Festival will be held in Roswell, New Mexico on July 5-7. I attended the UFO Festival in 2018 and had a great time.

From KOB Channel 4:

ROSWELL, N.M. — The City of Roswell is preparing for its annual UFO Festival. This year will mark the 77th anniversary after a UFO reportedly crashed near Roswell and put the city on the map.

There is going to be a little something for everyone.

“At the Chaves County courthouse lawn, we’ll be hosting the human costume contest, and that morning we’ll also be hosting the pet costume contest, which is very, very, a favorite of everyone,” said Barbara Gomez, the executive director for Main Street Roswell.

Adding to those contests are some stargazing and UFO expert lectures. For the first time this year, the festival will feature a car show. 

As the city prepares for the festival, they are expecting anywhere between 5,000 to 10,000 believers.

To read more, go here. 

100% Pure Aluminum Found At Roswell UFO Crash Site

Above, a framed re-print of the famous Roswell Daily Record front page. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in July 1947, headlines blared out that a "flying disc" or flying saucer had crashed in the southern section of New Mexico and recovered by the U.S. Army. The story was first reported by the Roswell Daily Record and picked up other newspapers around the country such as the Los Angeles Herald Express (below).

Then, almost as suddenly, the Army backtracked and said the object was a balloon, not a flying saucer.

This year marks 77 years since this incident. The controversy has not gone away.

Now, a geologist has found pieces of pure aluminum at the crash site that will surely open up a new can of worms.

According to the Daily Mail (U.K.):

America's most famous UFO case is still producing more evidence as scientists and civilians are on a mission to prove that the Roswell crash was not of this world. 

The 1947 incident made headlines when the US Army Air Force issued a press release stating that it had recovered debris from a 'flying disc' — only later to reverse course, claiming that the material had really just belonged to a downed weather balloon.

Geologist Frank Kimbler is among the many experts who have challenged the military's official version of what crashed on the outskirts of this New Mexico town, where he has scoured the alleged UFO's crash site with a metal detector since 2010.

Kimbler has since uncovered over 20 unusual scraps of metal material, most no bigger than a fingernail, and has now submitted one uniquely odd metal for testing to the Discovery Channel's new series 'Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction.'

Testing revealed that the metal was '100-percent pure aluminum,' which experts said was 'compelling evidence' that could prove aliens crashed in the area decades ago.

To read more, go here. 

The Lincoln County War

Above, the statue of John Chisum in Roswell, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer

Back in 1970, Batjac Productions produced the movie, Chisum, starring John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Bruce Cabot and Ben Johnson. Chisum was a fictionalized account of the Lincoln County War in New Mexico Territory. It was released by Warner Bros.

John Chisum was a big cattle rancher in Lincoln County. He was a part of one faction and L. J. Murphy was with another faction. 

While the movie was entertaining (and factually inaccurate), it condensed the Lincoln County War into either a few days or weeks. Whereas, the wars lasted from 1878 to 1881. Also involved was William "Billy the Kid" Bonney.

Murphy actually died of cancer instead of falling onto steer horns during a fist fight with Chisum as portrayed in Chisum.

According to Wikipedia:

The Lincoln County War was an Old West conflict between rival factions which began in 1878 in Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory, the predecessor of the state of New Mexico, and continued until 1881. The feud became famous because of the participation of William H. Bonney ("Billy the Kid"). Other notable participants included Sheriff William J. Brady, cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and businessmen Alexander McSween, James Dolan and Lawrence Murphy.

The conflict began between two factions competing for profits from dry goods and cattle interests in the county. The older, established faction was dominated by James Dolan, who operated a dry goods monopoly through a general store referred to locally as "The House". English-born John Tunstall and his business partner Alexander McSween opened a competing store in 1876, with backing from established cattleman John Chisum. The two sides gathered lawmen, businessmen, Tunstall's ranch hands, and criminal gangs to their assistance. The Dolan faction was allied with Lincoln County Sheriff Brady and aided by the Jesse Evans Gang. The Tunstall-McSween faction organized their own posse of armed men, known as the Lincoln County Regulators, and had their own lawmen consisting of town constable Richard M. Brewer and Deputy US Marshal Robert A. Widenmann.

The conflict was marked by revenge killings, starting with the murder of Tunstall by members of the Evans Gang. In revenge for this, the Regulators killed Sheriff Brady and others in a series of incidents. Further killings continued unabated for several months, climaxing in the battle of Lincoln, a five-day gunfight and siege that resulted in the death of McSween and the scattering of the Regulators. Pat Garrett was named County Sheriff in 1880, and he hunted down Billy the Kid, killing two other former Regulators in the process.

The war was fictionalized by several Hollywood movies, including The Left Handed Gun in 1958, John Wayne’s Chisum in 1970, Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid in 1973 and Young Guns in 1988. Ron Hansen’s novel The Kid (2016) is also inspired by the Lincoln County War.

Above, Pat Garrett.

Pat Garrett later became known as the man who shot Billy the Kid. 

From HistoryNet:

A soft-spoken and modest man, Garrett abhorred such encounters. “I sometimes wish that I had missed fire, and that the Kid had got his work in on me,” he lamented to a friend.

Garrett’s feat of single-handedly killing one of the West’s most notorious outlaws had been a double-edged sword. It had given him instant celebrity, a cash bonanza via a reward and donations from grateful citizens, and entrée to prominent politicians and businessmen. But the dead outlaw’s growing legend also haunted Garrett. Kid sympathizers branded Garrett a coward for shooting down Billy in the dark and claimed the Kid was unarmed to boot. And in Garrett’s later years, many viewed him as a violence-prone relic from an unseemly past.

Pat Garrett deserved better. The man had his flaws, but he was a sure enough hero when New Mexico needed one, and he rates in retrospect as one of the West’s greatest lawmen.

Although Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett weren't friends, they did gamble together and the Kid called Garrett "Big Casino" and Garrett called the Kid "Little Casino". At least Chisum got that right. 

Reno Air Races Moving To Roswell, New Mexico

Above, the famous Roswell welcome sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been a long time since I last attended an air show of any kind. I used to annually attend the Point Mugu Air Show in California.  

Maybe now, I can attend the Reno Air Races now that they are moving to Roswell, New Mexico.

From Fox 40:

(FOX40.COM) — The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) officially announced that Roswell, New Mexico will be the home of the National Championship Air Races (NCAR), according to a news release from the association on Thursday.

Since 2023, RARA has been considering six cities including; Buckeye, Arizona, Thermal, California, Wendover, Utah, Casper, Wyoming, Pueblo, Colorado, and Roswell, New Mexico to relocate the NCAR.

“We’re thrilled to bring our honored tradition of racing to Roswell and are confident that they have both the enthusiasm and resources to expand the future of our races for many generations to come,” said Fred Telling, CEO and chairman of the board for the Reno Air Racing Association.

Now Roswell will be known for something else besides flying saucers.

To read more, go here. 

New Mexico UFO Incidents We Never Heard Of

Above, an alien and flying saucer display at the Roswell International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Most everyone with just the slightest interest in Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) are familiar with the Roswell Incident of July 1947.

The Roswell, New Mexico UFO crash is just one of many UFO incidents in the state. Most of which nobody has ever heard of.

Yahoo! News has posted an article from KRQE on these other incidents.

They begin it with:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – You probably already know about the Roswell UFO incident, but New Mexico’s history of unidentified flying objects is far richer – and weirder – than just that one event.

To explore that history, KRQE News 13 spoke with David Marler, the executive director of the National UFO Historical Records Center. He has access to a massive collection of UFO reports from New Mexico and around the world. Here are a few incidents you might not have heard of.

To read more, go here.

Keep watching the skies!

Town Near Mt. Fuji Counts On UFO Tourism

Above, a Shinkansen view of Mount Fuji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Roswell, New Mexico has the distinction of having a UFO crash in 1947. But Roswell doesn't have any monopoly of UFO sightings or close encounters.

There was an encounter in Japan at the foot of Mount Fuji that took place in 1975 and the town of Kofu is capitalizing on it as a tourism draw.

According to Kyodo News:

 Local residents in Yamanashi Prefecture, at the foot of Mt. Fuji, are striving to make their city Kofu a tourist magnet with extraterrestrial help from an alien.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of an incident in which two elementary school children claimed to have encountered unidentified flying objects and an alien. It is dubbed one of "three major UFO incidents" reported in Japan.

Radio personality Kiichi Tokutake is among a group of people organizing events to celebrate the anniversary and boost the city's appeal. "I want to make Kofu a mecca for UFO enthusiasts," he said.

Tokutake's passion grew after he was told by a guest during his show that the UFO sighting in Kofu had recently grabbed attention among some overseas enthusiasts.

The alleged incident dates back to Feb. 23, 1975, when two boys playing near a vineyard in Kofu saw what they described as two saucer-shaped UFOs flashing in orange at around 6:30 p.m. They said a 120- to 130-centimeter tall alien with a big head, long ears and three fangs then descended, according to Tokutake. The alien reportedly had a brown face with no eyes or nose.

The boys left the scene to call their family. When they returned, the objects started blinking and glared briefly before disappearing. Their family and local residents provided similar descriptions.

To read more, go here. 

Roswell Police Patch Is Out of This World

Embracing the city's notorious history of nearly 80 years ago, the Roswell, New Mexico Police Department has unveiled their new uniform patch design.

This isn't the first time the city has incorporated the "Roswell Incident" in their city services. Their garbage trucks have flying saucer and alien imagery as shown below.

Above, a Roswell trash truck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

WHEC reported:

Famous for being the spot where a spacecraft purportedly crashed in 1947, Roswell, New Mexico, has become a mecca for people fascinated by extraterrestrial phenomenon. So it’s only fitting that the city’s police force has uniform patches that are out of this world.

Unveiled on Friday, the new patches feature the official city logo of a flying saucer with a classic beam radiating downward to form the letter “R.” The words “Protect and Serve Those That Land Here” form a circle and are separated by two tiny alien faces with large eyes.

Police Chief Lance Bateman said the department recently ordered an initial batch of 500, with the first ones being handed out just this week. The transition to the new patch is expected to be complete later this year.

To read more, go here. 

Roswell UFO Festival July 5th - 7th

Above, a display of aliens and flying saucer at the Roswell
 International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It must be that time again in New Mexico.

I received the first email from the organizers of AlienFest, the downtown mainstreet portion of the 2024 UFO Festival in Roswell, New Mexico. I attended the 2018 UFO Festival and had a great time.

Above, street vendors set up on Main Street. Note the street light globe at right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This year, the UFO Festival will be held on July 5th-7th, 2024.

For information on the UFO Festival, go here.

For information on AlienFest, go here.

Breakdown of The History of UFO Crashes

Above, a crashed UFO diorama at the Roswell International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I have been holed up indoors due to rain and snow showers and not having posted anything pertaining to Unidentified Flying Objects in a while, here's a story that caught my attention.

If you thought Roswell, New Mexico was the first (in 1947) UFO crash, well, you're mistaken. The Trinity atomic bomb test in 1945 (two years before Roswell) caused UFO to crash. 

KLAS (out of Las Vegas) has an article with the breakdown of the history of alleged UFO crashes.

They begin it with:

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Stories about crashed saucers and coverups have been around since the end of World War II. But now, these stories are being taken seriously in Washington.

When former intelligence officer David Grusch testified last July about nonhuman craft hidden away for decades inside special access programs, it caught some members of Congress and major media off guard.

However, the lore of crashed saucers and dead aliens is hardly new and the claims have leaked out many times in the past 76 years.

The grandfather of crashed saucer tales is Roswell. A story that didn’t emanate with UFO nuts, but came from the U.S. military.

To read more, go here. 

UFO Sightings Growing, Lawmakers Want More Information

Above, a July 1947 edition of the Los Angeles Herald-Express about Roswell.

Sightings of UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) or UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) are apparently growing and congress wants to know what's going on and if these sightings are a national security threat. But, they are getting stonewalled.

DC News Now has posted an article on this.

It begins with:

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Sightings of UFOs, also known as unidentified aerial phenomenon, are growing across the U.S.

A bipartisan group of House members ramped up its pressure on the U.S. government Thursday to release more information.

“I don’t know if it’s little green men or U.S. technology or the CCP, but they’re engaging around our nuclear facilities,” said U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-TN. “I don’t care who it is or where it’s from. That should concern you.”

The group argues Congress should be aware of any potential threats to national security, but intelligence officials and fellow lawmakers are “stonewalling” its efforts to view classified documents.

“The intelligence community does not want to share any of this information with Congress. We’re asking why,” said U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-FL.

To read more, go here.

Roswell UFO Museum Reaches 5 Million Visitors

Above, the International UFO Museum during the 2018 UFO Festival. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After moving to New Mexico five years ago, one of the things I did that first year was to drive down to Roswell for the annual UFO Festival. My former Tarzana roommate and I had a good time at the festival.'

One of the highlights of that trip was to visit the Roswell International UFO Museum and Research Center. The museum is well worth a visit. It even has a full size Gort replica from The Day The Earth Stood Still.

Above, the museum's Gort replica display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Times Union reported that the International UFO Museum and Research Center has reached five million visitors.

They wrote:

ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — The International UFO Museum & Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico, is celebrating an out-of-this-world milestone: 5 million visitors.

A father and daughter from Roswell became the lucky visitors when they entered the museum earlier Nov. 21, the Roswell Daily Record reported.

Chris and Hannah McDonald received balloons, memorabilia and a lifetime family museum membership.

Museum Executive Director Karen Jaramillo said it was a surprise that Roswell residents brought them to 5 million because so many guests are from out of state.

The UFO Museum, which opened in 1992, draws over 220,000 visitors each year, Jaramillo said.

Roswell has been a hub for people fascinated by space and extraterrestrial phenomenon since the 1947 so-called Roswell Incident.

To read more, go here. 

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.

To start off the week we have a cross-over (between country/folk and rock) artist who seemed to be everywhere back in the 1970s, John Denver.

From Wikipedia:

Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer and songwriter. He is known for popularizing acoustic folk music in the 1970s as part of the ongoing singer-songwriter movement of the mid-to-late 20th century. Denver is widely recognized as a cultural icon of the American West.

Interestingly, Denver was born in Roswell, New Mexico.

It was hard to decide on what song to spotlight, so I will post two. One, is his hit "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and the other, with Olivia Newton-John, who passed away from cancer a few months ago, "Fly Away".

Government Received Over 200 UFO Reports

Above, a display at the Roswell International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People are watching the skies, so it appears.

The Pentagon reports that UFOs/UAPs were seen over the past eight months and reports the government received are over 200.

From Fox News:

The Pentagon announced that there have been more than 270 reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena, known as UAPs or UFOs, reported to the U.S. government in the past eight months.

According to the unclassified report released Tuesday by the Department of Defense, since Aug. 31, 2022 to April 30, 2023, there were 274 new reports made to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which leads the government's efforts documenting and analyzing reports of UFOs/UAPs. 

Many of the reports it receives are made by members of the military and commercial pilots, the DOD noted.

To read more, go here.