Photos: Fans of extraterrestrials ‘storm’ Area 51 and its environs
September 20, 2019, 1:34 p.m.
John Locher/Associated Press/Associated Press
Meet Matty Roberts of California, the creator of the now-viral Facebook event entitled “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us.” Here, Roberts posed inside the area that will hold an art installation in downtown Las Vegas as part of the retooled official event. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/Getty Images
A person walked into the Little A’Le’Inn Wednesday in Rachel, Nevada. The small establishment is near ground zero for the retooled “Storm Area 51” event, which was originally created by Roberts as a joke and encouraged people to charge the military base and “see them aliens.”John Locher/Associated Press/Associated Press
A larger-than-life alien guarded the entrance to the Alien Research Center in Hiko, Nevada. The weekend’ “Storm Area 51” event might become a cultural marker, a dud, or something in between. John Locher/Associated Press/Associated Press
Law enforcement officials kept a presence in Rachel, Nevada, the small town closest to the Nevada Test and Training Range, which contains Area 51. Lincoln County Sheriff Kerry Lee reported that visitors have been going up to the restricted boundary to take selfies. ‘‘It’s public land,’’ the sheriff said. ‘‘They’re allowed to go to the gate, as long as they don’t cross the boundary.’’ John Locher/Associated Press/Associated Press
Hundreds of people had already arrived in Rachel, Nevada, as the sun set Thursday evening. John Locher/Associated Press/Associated Press
A man in an alien mask posted outside an entrance to the Nevada Test and Training Range near Area 51. Officials say about 150 actually made the trek out to the security gate for selfies. John Locher/Associated Press/Associated Press
Sheriff's deputies escorted a woman who allegedly ducked under the gate at an entrance to the Nevada Test and Training Range near Area 51, Friday. John Locher/Associated Press/Associated Press
A person was briefly detained by police and then released after allegedly ducking under the security gate.Bridget Bennett/AFP/Getty Images/AFP/Getty Images
A man stood near signs warning against incursion into the Nevada Test and Training Range. The US military had issued stern warnings that lethal force could be used if people entered the site.John Locher/Associated Press/Associated Press
A security guard stood just inside the entrance gate as people gathered outside early Friday. John Locher/Associated Press/Associated Press
Several attendees wore costumes on a visit to an Area 51 security gate. Bridget Bennett/AFP/Getty Images/AFP/Getty Images
While at first glance it may appear extraterrestrials have taken hold of several humans, it turns out the humans themselves were wearing costumes on a visit to the security gate near Area 51. Bridget Bennett/AFP/Getty Images/AFP/Getty Images
Back in Rachel, Nevada, attendees danced to live music during the Alienstock festival. AFP/Getty Images
Matty Roberts celebrated as attendees listened to live music at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on Thursday. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/Getty Images
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
