Tucked away on the campus of Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Rio Rancho is a unique facility dedicated to preserving the history of unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The National UFO Historic Records Center (NUFOHRC), a nonprofit organization, is committed to archiving government documents, media, and other historical records related to UFO encounters. Director David Marler emphasized that the center’s mission is to safeguard these materials while making them accessible to the public, researchers, and ufologists.

A Partnership to Inspire STEM Learning

The Rio Rancho Public Schools (RRPS) has entered into a five-year partnership with NUFOHRC, with the possibility of renewal. The collaboration provides the center with two outdoor buildings to house the archives while also using the collection to spark student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

During a recent interview and tour with the Roswell Daily Record, Marler expressed his appreciation for the upgrades RRPS made to the buildings, ensuring a secure and suitable home for the archives.

Exploring the Archive: A Journey Through UFO History

Stepping into the first building, visitors are greeted by walls adorned with historical newspaper front pages, movie posters, and magazine covers documenting UFO encounters. Among the memorabilia is a poster for Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, alongside enlarged images of famous UFO sightings, illustrating the evolution of reports over time.

A notable display case features artifacts from renowned UFO investigations, including items connected to Project Blue Book. Next to it, a mannequin dressed in full military attire adds to the historical atmosphere.

Marler highlighted a collection of signs and photographs originating from a 1989 UFO conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. “These were boxed up and stored for 35 years,” he explained. “When we were preparing for the ribbon-cutting, we decided to repurpose them, and they were still in excellent condition.”

Another glass case holds documents and memorabilia from significant UFO cases, including the original sketch drawn by private pilot Kenneth Arnold. On June 24, 1947, Arnold reported seeing unusual flying objects over Washington state’s Mount Rainier, coining the now-famous term “flying saucers.” This sighting marked the beginning of what became known as the “Summer of Saucers,” a period of heightened UFO reports. Just days later, the Roswell Daily Record published its now-legendary report on the Army recovering a “flying saucer” near Roswell.

A Growing Collection of UFO Research Materials

Beyond the main exhibition room lies a vast collection of VHS tapes, books, and archival materials still being cataloged. Marler acknowledged the time-consuming nature of documenting the materials and emphasized the need for additional volunteers.

The archive is already home to prestigious UFO research collections, including:

• The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO)
• The National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP)
• The Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS)

Additionally, it holds personal collections from noted researchers such as Philip Mantle (UK), Lee Speigel, Antonio Huneeus, and Lou Farish, among others. Marler noted that the center is continuously expanding, with new materials being added regularly.

Preserving UFO History for the Digital Age

The adjacent building serves as NUFOHRC’s main meeting room and houses an extensive library. Several digitization stations allow for the preservation of aging materials, ensuring their accessibility for future generations.

“Over here, we have all of our digitization equipment,” Marler explained. “We can convert **cassette tapes, reel-to-reel recordings, VHS tapes in both NTSC and PAL formats, microfilm, and even large-format newspapers like National Enquirer and Life Magazine.”

Filing cabinets filled with case reports dating from 1947 through the early 1990s line the walls. Marler acknowledged the growing need for more storage space. “We’re integrating additional files, so we’ll need more cabinets,” he said.

Among the many documents, Marler pulled out a stack of APRO membership index cards, pointing to an intriguing detail. “One of APRO’s subscribers was Los Alamos National Laboratory. If there was nothing to UFOs, why would they repeatedly subscribe year after year?”

A Rare Collection of UFO Literature

In the final section of the facility, shelves are filled with rare books, magazines, and newsletters from around the world. Some of these texts are incredibly difficult to find, such as Edgar Sievers’ Flying Saucer über Südafrika. “This is the only copy I have ever seen for sale,” Marler noted.

Looking to the Future

Given New Mexico’s deep-rooted history in UFO phenomena, Marler believes Rio Rancho is the perfect location for this growing collection. As global interest in UFOs continues to rise, he looks forward to sharing the archives with the public in the coming years.

With the facility now officially open, visitors are encouraged to schedule an appointment to explore the collection.

For more information or to book a visit, please visit NUFOHRC’s website.