America’s most extensive collection of original historical documents related to UFOs has just found a new home in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
The National UFO Historical Records Center (NUFOHRC), founded by veteran UFO researcher and historian David Marler, opened its brand-new public facility in cooperation with Rio Rancho Public Schools at an event last week.
For decades, Marler has collected thousands of records from government and civilian sources, along with video and audio recordings, photographs, magazines, and historical artifacts related to studying what the U.S. government now calls unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).
The organization’s new home, unveiled last Tuesday at a special ribbon-cutting event, was an outgrowth of Marler’s passion for preserving the subject’s history.
“I started working with local politicians and had successive meetings that ultimately led to the public school system,” Marler told The Debrief at last week’s event. “I shared with them the vision of a more academically oriented archive, and they saw the potential for a unique educational experience for their students.”
“It seemed like a perfect match,” Marler said.
Amy Baker, a local teacher in Albuquerque who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, said the new facility boasts unprecedented historical information on the subject.
“The truth is not out there,” said Baker, who operates the X account Good Morning UFO. “It’s in there!”
At its new facility, NUFOHRC preserves some of the most compelling historical documentation involving UAP, including copies of original case files from Project Blue Book once owned by its scientific advisor, astronomer J. Allen Hynek.
In addition to the wealth of official U.S. government documentation housed at NUFOHRC’s new facility, Marler and his team recently acquired the files of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), a civilian scientific organization that conducted UFO field investigations with several scientists serving as consultants. The files, kept at a private residence in Arizona for decades, are now housed at NUFOHRC’s Rio Rancho facility and include photographs, original artwork, and physical artifacts from APRO’s investigations spanning several decades.
Marler told The Debrief at the opening of the new facility that one of the APRO files he recently reviewed contained records on the group’s investigation into an incident at Falcon Lake in Manitoba, Canada, which occurred on May 20, 1967. Along with clothing worn by the witness, Stefan Michalak, which was reportedly burnt by exhaust produced by the object as he stood just a few feet from it, Marler was surprised to discover an original soil sample from the alleged UFO landing had also been tucked away in a tiny box within the case file.
Before the records center opened at its new Rio Rancho Public Schools location, the collection had been kept for years in David Maler’s home in an extension of the house just outside the master bedroom.
“My wife (Kendra) is a saint,” Marler said of his spouse’s support for his unique pastime, calling his work “a family affair.”
With tens of thousands of documents now held within two buildings behind the podium, Founder David Marler was joined at the ribbon-cutting event by Michael Baker, COO of the Rio Rancho Public School System, along with Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg, Sandoval County Chairman Dave Heil, Rio Rancho Public School Board President Amanda Galbraith, and Jerry Schalow, Rio Rancho Chamber of Commerce President, each taking to the stage to express their support for the new effort.
“We are excited to embark on this unique partnership with the National UFO Historical Records Center,” Baker said during the ceremony. “This collaboration will preserve important historical documents and provide our students with exceptional educational experiences.”
“This agreement represents a significant step in the preservation of and education about our nation’s UFO history,” Marler said.
The agreement’s initial term covers five years of operations, with the option for renewal. In a press release, both parties expressed commitment to the success of their partnership and to creating lasting opportunities for education and historical preservation in Rio Rancho and beyond, although much work remains to be done.
“We still have to physically move approximately 150 bankers’ boxes of material from deep storage to the new facilities,” Marler said. “They then need to be sorted accordingly.” The organization will also begin interviewing volunteer candidates who have contacted Marler with interest in helping.
“Over the course of the winter, I will work with the teachers on how best to utilize our holdings to help teach STEM learning,” Marler told The Debrief. “Then, in the Spring of 2025, I will begin a series of school lectures for the kids.”
UFO enthusiasts, researchers, and historians can sort through records anytime, although Marler advises that visitors planning to see the collection schedule their visits in advance.
“Visitors can go to our website to schedule a visit,” Marler told The Debrief, noting that the facility hopes to be open to the public for scheduled visits by early December, which are limited based on the facility’s volunteer staff and their availability.
Marler told The Debrief that the opening of the new NUFOHRC facility marks a new phase in public education on the UAP subject for people in the Rio Rancho area and beyond.
“We are proud to partner with Rio Rancho Public Schools to inspire the next generation of historians and scientists,” Marler said.
The Debrief would like to thank the Hilton Garden Inn Albuquerque North Rio Rancho for sponsoring its stay while attending the launch of the new National UFO Historical Records Center.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on The Debrief’s YouTube Channel on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton and at chrissynewton.com.