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
Alabama State Route 51 reaches its northern terminus at Opelika. When SR 51 was formed in 1940, it covered only the route between Clayton and Midway. The highway was extended to its current southern terminus in 1957, and was extended to its current northern terminus in 1986. Alabama State Route 51 State Route 51 (SR 51) is a state highway in the southeastern and east-central parts of the U.S. state of Alabama. The southern terminus of the highway is at an intersection with U.S. Route 84 (US 84) near New Brockton. The northern terminus of the highway is at an interchange with I-85/US 29/US