Area 51 request filed in 2005, the CIA publicly acknowledged the existence of the base for the first time, declassifying documents detailing the history and purpose of Area 51. Area 51 is located in the southern portion of Nevada in the western United States, north-northwest of Las Vegas. Situated at its center, on the southern shore of Groom Lake, is a large military airfield. The site was acquired by the United States Air Force in 1955, primarily for the flight testing of the Lockheed U-2 aircraft. The area around Area 51, including the small town of Rachel on the "Extraterrestrial Highway", is
Utah State Route 51 of the oldest grade separated interchanges in Utah still in use. Although portions of Interstate 15 were constructed in 1955, the Beck Street interchange (I-15/US-89) is the only original structure from 1955 still in use. Utah State Route 51 State Route 51 is a short highway completely within Utah County in northern Utah that connects SR-147 to US-89. The highway runs for three miles (5 km) and is an old routing of U.S. Route 91. The route begins at the intersection of 400 North (SR-147) and Childs Road in Spanish Fork, SR-51 heading northeast as a two-lane undivided highway on