National UFO Historical Records Center coming to Albuquerque, New Mexico

📍 Location

📝 Description

Originally announced as a national archive to open in the Albuquerque area, the National UFO Historical Records Center (NUFOHRC) opened a public archival facility in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, in October 2024. The center, founded by UFO historian David Marler, relocated thousands of documents, photographs, audio recordings, and artifacts into two portable buildings (each about 1,300 square feet) on the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School campus at 1301 Nicklaus Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124, under a five-year memorandum of agreement with Rio Rancho Public Schools. The facility's mission is to preserve UFO/UAP history, digitize materials, and provide public access by appointment or during non-school hours. It also offers educational programming (six lectures per year) and hosts community events; the collection reportedly includes official records from Project Blue Book and APRO files, among others.

🔍 Circumstances

The MOA establishing the partnership was signed in June 2024, and a ribbon-cutting/opening event occurred in late October 2024. The archive is housed on RRPS property as two portable buildings adjacent to MLK Elementary, with access controls and educational programming planned for students and the public. Public open houses have been held, and the center operates with support from local officials and volunteers.

👤 Physical Description

Two portable buildings, each approximately 1,300 square feet, located on the campus of Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School at 1301 Nicklaus Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. The facilities include heating/cooling, electrical and internet connectivity, bathrooms, parking nearby, security features (fencing and video monitoring), and access controlled via badges for center members with background checks.

ℹ️ Additional Details

The NUFOHRC is publicly accessible by appointment or during non-school hours as per the agreement. The center plans six major lectures per year and collaboration with Rio Rancho Public Schools for educational programming. The collection reportedly includes materials from Project Blue Book as well as APRO files, and the archive aims to serve researchers, students, and the general public.

🔗 Sources (6)

👥 Community Contributions

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