International UFO Museum & Research Center

Roswell got itself a place in alien history nearly 70 years ago in 1947, when a crashed surveillance plane spawned rumors it was really an extraterrestrial spaceship. Since then, the New Mexico town has been ground zero for ufologists around the world. For believers and skeptics curious about the heavens, the International UFO Museum and Research Center is a fun place to visit if you have ever wondered, “Are we alone?”

International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, New Mexico © Valentin Armianu | Dreamstime

For serious museum buffs, this might not be a great experience though. This museum, while serious about aliens, has a kitschy feel that’s meant to be more fun that your typical historical museum. There are several exhibits covering not only the “Roswell Incident”, but also crop circles, abductions and Area 51. There are plenty of newspaper clips and investigation documents on display, in addition to video recollections of the crash from Roswell residents.

International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, New Mexico © Ian McKellar | Flickr

Unfortunately, instead of actual artifacts, much of the museum is made up of documents and recreations, like a Mayan sarcophagus replica depicting a human figure leaving earth in what looks like a spaceship. While it doesn’t resemble a scientific museum, the exhibits are interesting to look at. The IUMRC regularly features lecturers and presentations from members of the ufology community, and they even organize the annual UFO Festival every summer.