International UFO Museum and Research Center and Gift Shop — Attraction in Roswell

Visitor Guide: What to Expect at the Roswell UFO Museum

If you're planning a trip to the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico, especially because of the legendary 1947 Roswell Incident, it’s worth going in with the right expectations. Much like the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, this is more about myth, inspiration, and lore than hard evidence or high-tech immersion.

Let’s start with the basics. The museum has relocated in recent years, and the signage makes it easy to find. Admission is inexpensive, the facility is clean, and everything is easy to navigate on foot. But rather than a traditional museum with interactive exhibits, the experience leans more toward an archive-style presentation with static displays and research materials.

About a third of the exhibits focus on the Roswell crash itself, though much of that section is filled with photocopied documents, legal affidavits, newspaper clippings, and personal statements. These are interesting from a historical perspective, but they can also be a bit confusing or inconsistent. For example, one account described an egg-shaped craft on a military truck, while another mentioned four alien beings instead of the commonly reported three. These contradictions are thought-provoking, but they may leave you uncertain rather than enlightened.

The museum’s standout feature is its library. For serious UFO researchers or long-time enthusiasts, it’s a goldmine, offering thousands of books, magazines, and original articles. If you’ve got time and curiosity, you could spend days here. But if you’re just a casual visitor looking for a dramatic retelling or visual recreation of the Roswell incident, this may feel underwhelming.

That brings us to what’s missing. There’s a crash simulation video reenactment, but it’s not of the 1947 Roswell crash. You obviously won’t find any original debris or declassified documents, only replicas and interpretive summaries. Interactive exhibits are minimal, and while there are a few side rooms with additional content, most of it is modest in scope.

Roswell itself is quite isolated, with very little else to do in the area. The museum can be fully explored in two to three hours, and for many visitors, a half-day is more than enough. If seeing it is a lifelong curiosity or bucket-list item, it’s worth the drive. But don’t expect a sprawling entertainment complex.

A side note: The front desk staff mentioned to my wife and I that the actual crash site was once open to visitors, but access has been revoked due to repeated issues with disrespectful tourists. Today, it’s just a quiet ranch with no public entry.

In the end, I’d rate the museum three out of five stars. One star off because I hoped for a deeper focus on the Roswell crash itself, and another due to the location’s remoteness and lack of surrounding attractions.

Final thought: If you’re passionate about UFO history and love digging into primary sources, this place has real value. But if you’re chasing a cinematic experience or looking for definitive answers, you may leave with more questions than when you arrived.

Either way, safe travels, and keep...

The International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, NM, had so much potential to be an enjoyable, quirky stop for our family during our road trip last month, but unfortunately, it left us feeling disappointed. We were hoping for a fun and engaging experience for both the kids and the adults, but the visit fell flat in several ways, and it’s hard to recommend the museum to others based on our experience.

The issues began as soon as we started exploring the exhibits. Many of the displays, which I imagine would have been fascinating with the proper lighting, were poorly illuminated or completely dark. It was frustrating to see some areas of the museum where the lights weren’t functioning or were just missing entirely. One of the largest displays—a centerpiece of the museum that I would assume is a highlight for many visitors—was not lit at all. This was a significant letdown for our family, as we had planned to take a group photo in front of it. Without proper lighting, it was impossible to capture a good picture, which soured the experience for us.

Adding to the disappointment, several interactive screens throughout the museum were not operational. The kids were particularly excited to interact with these, as the promise of learning about UFO history and conspiracy theories in a hands-on way had intrigued them. However, encountering dark screens with no explanation or signs of maintenance gave the impression that the museum was poorly maintained. It’s one thing to have a few glitches, but when multiple interactive elements are non-functional, it disrupts the flow of the visit and takes away from the overall experience.

The final straw came in the gift shop. After trying to salvage the visit by purchasing some souvenirs, we realized shortly after that one of the shirts we bought for our child was the wrong size. We returned to the gift shop less than 10 minutes after our purchase to request an exchange. Nancy, the staff member assisting us, was shockingly rude and impatient throughout the process. She acted as if we were inconveniencing her by simply asking for a size exchange. Her tone was curt, and she seemed unwilling to help resolve the issue. The whole interaction felt unnecessarily unpleasant, and it left a bad taste in our mouths as we left the museum.

To sum it up, while the International UFO Museum and Research Center may have its charms for those willing to overlook significant issues, it didn’t live up to our expectations. The poorly lit exhibits, malfunctioning interactive elements, and lackluster customer service made the experience feel like a missed opportunity. With some attention to maintenance and customer service training for staff, the museum could be a fun and educational stop. Unfortunately, as it stands, we left feeling let down and wouldn’t recommend it to others unless some significant improvements are made. For a museum in a town so iconic for UFO lore, we expected much more effort to make the visit...

Out of Order Technicsl Difficulties

And you don't know it until you try to go to the viewing room and or the virtual reality room. Tickets should have been half price or refunded but staff looked cheaply so many warned those coming in.

Shot a wad of cash and twenty minutes. Would give zero stars if the app would take that rating RIP OFF

Unfortunately we weren't told the film area was closed, several people were waiting in that area, so I asked one of three people, that seem to like to duck low behind the counter, when the film starts. She said, we are having technical difficulties today. I suggested they put a sign on the door then as many people were in their awaiting the film. The three looked at each other as if maybe I should do that. We went through the other displays which one could Google, excited to reach the reality room, which -guess what? Was closed. There was at least a sign on that door. Went to the gift shop for the second time as we thought maybe we would get a little more entertainment then twenty minutes. Went to the research library twice. Filled with books and another introvert behind the counter trying to hide in a robin egg blue sweet jacket who spoke to none of us three the two visits to the library. Selling tickets without heads up that the two biggest attractions to the place are closed and not even bothering to put sign on the door of one not working is lame. After our half visit and me suggesting one of the, doing nothing, front counter people put an out of order sign on the out of order presentation room I went back to check. Lights still on the room, no sign. Obviously for three staff in the "counter pay now area"-the lights weren't on either. Neither were the lights on with the introverted downer in the research room. We laughed when two groups mentioned in the gift shop that the two main attractions in the place were close to hear the larger employee say "well we don't know when things are going to break" to several in their group that asked. Heard The place is all over staffed with inept and uncaring staff. Don't make this a destination, and if you do pass through enjoy one of the cute antique shops or cute McDonald's. We should have been given a refund. The guy at front desk was asked by several and just looked like "huh"

I posted two pics to the Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds where one can grab some fun photos. The rest of the photos are to a tired and broken down museum that I think you should pass on.

Just google and read about the cool things online and...