Roswell NM

Roswell NM, located in the southeastern part of New Mexico, is best known for its associations with the so-called 1947 "Roswell UFO Incident". The crash of the mysterious aircraft happened about 75 miles from the town, but the name has stuck ever since. The city is the subject of a popular sci-fi TV series called Roswell and hosts a UFO Festival each summer. Roswell, a town of about 45,000 residents is an agricultural and ranching community. It is also the childhood home of actress Demi Moore, musician John Denver, and Hall of Fame jockey Mike E. Smith.

History

Roswell was founded in the mid-19th century by Van C. Smith, a businessman from Nebraska. Smith set up the town's general store, its post office, and its first hotel. He became Roswell's first postmaster and named the town after his grandfather.

During World War II, the Roswell suburb of Orchard Park was the site of a POW camp for German prisoners of war. Today, the site is a small park and contains a piece of the Berlin Wall, given to Roswell by the German Air Force.

The area just outside of Roswell was home to an important military installation, Walker Air Force Base, from 1941 to 1967. After the base closed, the city has promoted itself as a retirement community and a center for UFO tourism.

Roswell UFO Incident

The so-called "Roswell UFO Incident" refers to the July 1947 crash of a strange object, some 75 miles outside of Roswell. The local air base investigated the huge debris field and announced it had recovered a "flying disk." After that initial press release, the US Army Air Force revised the account, stating that the craft was merely a weather balloon. The "incident" was revived in the 1980s by the tabloid newspaper, The National Inquirer and conspiracy theories have proliferated ever since.

Attractions

Roswell abounds is natural beauty and outdoor activities as well as UFO souvenir stores and novelty shops. In addition, the town offers these more serious attractions:

• Roswell Museum and Art Center - The adobe-style museum opened in 1937 with a grant from the WPA. The museum highlights the work of regional artists. Their collection includes work by Henriette Wyeth and artifacts by New Mexico aerospace pioneer Robert H. Goddard.

• Roswell International UFO Museum and Research Center - Opened in 1991, this unique museum features interactive exhibits on UFO sightings and research. The museum is open every day and is just $2 for adults and $1 for children. The IUMRC sponsors the annual Roswell UFO Festival.

• Spring River Zoo - Located in the heart of Roswell, this diverse zoo is free to the public. Attractions here include a youth (15 and under) fishing lake, an antique carousel, a miniature train, and a children's petting zoo. Of course, there are lots of animals too, many of which represent the fauna of New Mexico.

Visting Roswell NM

Roswell is accessible by plane to the small airport in Roswell as well as by car from Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Oklahoma City. Accommodations in town range from motels to charming bed and breakfast inns. A car is recommended when visiting Roswell as many of the sights are located outside of town.

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