--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe it is called 'Area 51' because…" description: "\"I believe it is called 'Area 51' because of a project, the very first project that went on out there, in 1951.\" — Annie Jacobsen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/annie-jacobsen-9277_area_i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-o_1234917.jpg" --- # I believe it is called 'Area 51' because of a project, the… ![“I believe it is called 'Area 51' because of a project, the very first project that went on out there, in 1951.” quote by Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/annie-jacobsen-9277_area_i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-o_1234917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/annie-jacobsen-9277_area_i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-o_1234917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/annie-jacobsen-9277_area_i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-o_1234917.jpg) > “I believe it is called 'Area 51' because of a project, the very first project that went on out there, in 1951.” [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests the name “Area 51” originates from the first secret project launched there in 1951. **In simple terms:** Area 51 likely named after its first 1951 project. Key Takeaway Consider the historical context of secret military sites. Themes secrecy military history government projects Mood curious speculative Type historical investigative When to use this quote - historical research - military analysis - documentary filmmaking - journalistic investigation Key Concepts Cold War classified research naming conventions Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports this naming theory? - How do naming myths affect public perception? A Different Perspective The exact origin of the name may be disputed or lack definitive proof. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [51 Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/51-project-3833896/) [Area](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/area/) [Area 51](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/area-51-287521/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project/) [Project Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project-project-3210212/) [Project Went](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/project-went-3833897/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Went 1951](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-1951-3833898/) ## Related quotes > [Urban legend has it that Area 51 is connected by underground tunnels and trains to other secret facilities around the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/urban-legend-has-it-that-area-51-is-connected-by-underground-tunnels/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [Many of the engineers I interviewed worked on reverse-engineering technology. It's a hallmark of Area 51.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/many-of-the-engineers-i-interviewed-worked-on-reverse-engineering/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [In many previously classified documents relating to activities at the base, the words 'Area 51' are conveniently blacked out. There's always a euphemism for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/in-many-previously-classified-documents-relating-to-activities-at-the/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [Area 51 is located in southern Nevada desert about 75 miles north of Las Vegas. It's set inside a greater land parcel that's about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/area-51-is-located-in-southern-nevada-desert-about-75-miles-north-of/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [One of the few things the Air Force did admit to me existed out there presently without admitting that it was Area 51 is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/one-of-the-few-things-the-air-force-did-admit-to-me-existed-out-there/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [Everything that goes on at Area 51 is classified 'top secret' when it's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/everything-that-goes-on-at-area-51-is-classified-top-secret-when-it-s/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [For decades, the men at Area 51 thought they'd take their secrets to the grave. At the height of the Cold War, they cultivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/for-decades-the-men-at-area-51-thought-they-d-take-their-secrets-to/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [As far as I know, all the presidents know about Area 51. It would almost be impossible for them not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/as-far-as-i-know-all-the-presidents-know-about-area-51-it-would/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The problem is the myths of Area 51 are hard to dispute if no one can speak on the record about what actually happened there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-problem-is-the-myths-of-area-51-are-hard-to-dispute-if-no-one-can/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The area out at Area 51 that was part of the Operation Plumbbob test continues to be contaminated. It was not cleaned up until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-area-out-at-area-51-that-was-part-of-the-operation-plumbbob-test/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The idea that Area 51 was this test facility working to move science and technology faster and further than any other nation is true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-idea-that-area-51-was-this-test-facility-working-to-move-science/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [Everything in life should be approached as a project. Every project can be broken down into just three things: Action Steps, Backburner Items, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-belsky/everything-in-life-should-be-approached-as-a-project-every-project/) [Scott Belsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-belsky/) > [“If the anti-gravity flying machines witnessed by so many in and around Area 51’s airspace are manmade then that confirms the Splinter Civilization are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/if-the-anti-gravity-flying-machines-witnessed-by-so-many-in-and/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [“Rest tonight, because tomorrow we move against Area 51 and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-o-hearn/rest-tonight-because-tomorrow-we-move-against-area-51-and/) [Kate O'Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-o-hearn/) > [“I think we spent close to thirty Euros pumping change into a game called Area 51. If the earth is ever attacked by aliens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cj-roberts/i-think-we-spent-close-to-thirty-euros-pumping-change-into-a-game/) [CJ Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cj-roberts/) ## More by Annie Jacobsen > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [“Over the next five years, DARPA’s biohybrid programs advanced at an astonishing pace. Microprocessor technology was doubling in capacity every eighteen months. By June…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/over-the-next-five-years-darpa-s-biohybrid-programs-advanced-at-an/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The activities that went on at Camp King between 1946 and the late 1950s have never been fully accounted for by either the Department…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-activities-that-went-on-at-camp-king-between-1946-and-the-late/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [“By the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Eisenhower’s test ban had failed, and the United States and the Soviet Union had both returned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/by-the-time-of-the-cuban-missile-crisis-eisenhower-s-test-ban-had/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [“By contrast, Dresher and Flood found that the minority of game players who refused to testify against their criminal partner were almost always of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/by-contrast-dresher-and-flood-found-that-the-minority-of-game-players/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [“To address strength and endurance issues, Goldblatt initiated a program called the Mechanically Dominant Soldier. What if soldiers could have ten times the muscle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/to-address-strength-and-endurance-issues-goldblatt-initiated-a/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The area out at Area 51 that was part of the Operation Plumbbob test continues to be contaminated. It was not cleaned up until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-area-out-at-area-51-that-was-part-of-the-operation-plumbbob-test/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [I'm not an aviation historian, I'm not an Air Force aficionado, and I'm definitely not a ufologist. I'm not someone who studies UFOs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/i-m-not-an-aviation-historian-i-m-not-an-air-force-aficionado-and-i-m/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [Back in the 1950s, there was a top-secret program code-named SUNTAN being conducted at a top-secret facility called Skunk Works. Its objective? To develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/back-in-the-1950s-there-was-a-top-secret-program-code-named-suntan/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [In the winter of 1973, the American POWs held captive in Vietnam were released according to the terms of the Paris Peace Accords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/in-the-winter-of-1973-the-american-pows-held-captive-in-vietnam-were/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [I examined a lot of CIA declassified UFO files, which are fascinating, because there was a huge UFO craze going on in America. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/i-examined-a-lot-of-cia-declassified-ufo-files-which-are-fascinating/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [You can absolutely drive through an atmospheric bomb test and not be affected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/you-can-absolutely-drive-through-an-atmospheric-bomb-test-and-not-be/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [“The war in Europe was over. Germans called it die Stunde Null, zero hour. Cities lay in ruins. Allied bombing had destroyed more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-war-in-europe-was-over-germans-called-it-die-stunde-null-zero/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [“Poindexter’s background was in submarines, and there was an analogy here, he told Tether. Submarines emit sound signals as they move through the sea.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/poindexter-s-background-was-in-submarines-and-there-was-an-analogy/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The problem is the myths of Area 51 are hard to dispute if no one can speak on the record about what actually happened there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/the-problem-is-the-myths-of-area-51-are-hard-to-dispute-if-no-one-can/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) [Explore all 74 Annie Jacobsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) ## More Area quotes > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [Is it philosophical, is it quite allowable, to assume without evidence from fossil plants that the family or any of the genera was once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-gray/is-it-philosophical-is-it-quite-allowable-to-assume-without-evidence/) [Asa Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-gray/) > [“Having no applicable skills, in any possible area whatsoever, effectively makes me the master of redundancy. But that info is obsolete, like my insults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/having-no-applicable-skills-in-any-possible-area-whatsoever/) [Will Advise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-advise/) > [It was sort of that in-between area when people don't talk about their personal lives. That's the kind of life I think Kerry would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-innes/it-was-sort-of-that-in-between-area-when-people-don-t-talk-about/) [Laura Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-innes/) > [There have been trade-offs every day, every month, every year. There's a lot that I missed and I do have regrets in that area.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/there-have-been-trade-offs-every-day-every-month-every-year-there-s-a/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) > [Skating has always been a major area of interest to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-cohen/skating-has-always-been-a-major-area-of-interest-to-me/) [Sasha Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-cohen/) > [Until the Nineteen-Eighties, when Deng Xiaoping designated the area as China's first special economic zone, Shenzhen had been a tiny fishing village. Suddenly, eleven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/until-the-nineteen-eighties-when-deng-xiaoping-designated-the-area-as/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [In my opinion, the Bay is a trendsetting area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/in-my-opinion-the-bay-is-a-trendsetting-area/) [Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/) > [I just enjoy acting, whatever area - theatre, film, television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dockery/i-just-enjoy-acting-whatever-area-theatre-film-television/) [Michelle Dockery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dockery/) > [For me, the greatest obstacles are never on the ice itself. That's the area I excel in. That's where my passion is. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-bancroft/for-me-the-greatest-obstacles-are-never-on-the-ice-itself-that-s-the/) [Ann Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-bancroft/) > [My grandmother and I would go see movies, and we'd come back to the apartment - we had a one-room apartment in Hollywood -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/my-grandmother-and-i-would-go-see-movies-and-we-d-come-back-to-the/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [I'm going to go back to the Bay Area, this is my thing, and I'm just going to open my own school of baseball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/i-m-going-to-go-back-to-the-bay-area-this-is-my-thing-and-i-m-just/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) > [I had a major surgery, a major abdominal surgery, and a mass was removed from my pelvic area, and I do have some more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-quivers/i-had-a-major-surgery-a-major-abdominal-surgery-and-a-mass-was/) [Robin Quivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-quivers/) > [What I will say is that business is not a nice area. And you might say that I am a business woman, but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-cole/what-i-will-say-is-that-business-is-not-a-nice-area-and-you-might-say/) [Cheryl Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-cole/) [Browse all 419 Area quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/area/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe it is called 'Area 51' because of a project, the very first project that went on out there, in 1951.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Annie Jacobsen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-of-a-project-the-very-first/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Area" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-of-a-project-the-very-first/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/annie-jacobsen-9277_area_i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-o_1234917.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/annie-jacobsen-9277_area_i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-o_1234917.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/annie-jacobsen-9277_area_i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-o_1234917.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe it is called 'Area 51' because of a project, the very first project that went on out there, in 1951.” — Annie Jacobsen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Annie Jacobsen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I believe it is called 'Area...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-of-a-project-the-very-first/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/i-believe-it-is-called-area-51-because-of-a-project-the-very-first/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```