Do you believe in alien encounters on Earth? More than seventy years after the Roswell incident of 1947 the city of Roswell, New Mexico continues to capitalize on the report of a UFO crash nearby. Despite a lack of credible evidence, many people want to believe that it happened and that the verification was concealed by the government. On a walk around the downtown historic district little green men, the stereotypical portrayal of aliens takes every form from inflatables to wood carvings to lamp posts.
You may even see some creepy “greys” in displays in store windows and restaurants. The International UFO Museum and Research Center has information about the incident for those wanting to believe. Drive by the UFO shaped McDonalds or stop to play inside in the air-conditioned space themed Playland.
Beyond the Roswell incident this small city in the High Great Plains of southeastern, New Mexico was a military town turned retirement community that has several historic buildings, excellent mom and pop Mexican restaurants and tasty frozen custard. There are also several museums. The Roswell Museum and Art Center showcases the first liquid-fueled rockets, southwestern art, and many historical artifacts. The Miniatures and Curious Collections “museum” showcase dollhouses and special exhibits of diverse collections including toys, hats, pennies and cookie jars.
Some people may consider Roswell a tourist trap. We experienced it as a rare playful roadside American oddity invading a nostalgic small town.
