Josh Gates Goes to Roswell

July 2017 marked the 70th anniversary of one of the most mysterious and controversial events in American history: the alleged crash landing of an unknown object in the New Mexico desert. Since the incident in 1947, Roswell, New Mexico, has become a magnet for extraterrestrial enthusiasts alike, and Expedition Unknown host Josh Gates joined them for a very special Roswell UFO Festival commemorating the still unsolved (as far as we know) mystery.

By: Jessica Galliart

Show: Hunt for Extraterrestrials

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Photo By: Gilles Mingasson

Roswell UFO Museum

The International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico, includes exhibits related to the Roswell crash and alien-related art.

Roswell UFO Museum

The museum dedicated to all-things-extraterrestrial has played host to the annual UFO Festival in Roswell for more than 20 years.

Strange Museum Visitors

One of the UFO Museum’s most impressive displays includes moving, lifelike creatures from another planet.

Greetings, Earthling

Other UFO Museum exhibits feature art and interpretations of what extraterrestrial life outside of Earth might look like.

Man Down

This exhibit at the International UFO Museum and Research Center imagines what one of the alleged creatures found at the Roswell crash site might have looked like.

Photo Opp

Because aliens need snack breaks, too, right?

Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner

Josh Gates gets comfortable with other “visitors” at the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico.

Timelines

The UFO Museum also serves as a research center for alien enthusiasts and skeptics. Exhibits like these with newspaper clippings from reported sightings provide comprehensive timelines of encounters with extraterrestrial life.

Alien Experiments

Many Roswell enthusiasts maintain that the U.S. government recovered alien beings from the Roswell wreckage and performed autopsies and other experiments on them in secret.

Roswell Mania

Signs around town show just how much of a hotbed of alien interest Roswell has become since the incident more than 70 years ago.

Roswell Mania

Signs around town show just how much of a hotbed of alien interest Roswell has become since the incident more than 70 years ago.

I Want to Believe

Josh Gates meets a handful of the green visitors at the annual Roswell Festival.

A Sighting in Roswell

Behind you, sir!

Close Encounter of the Brrr Kind

Josh Gates agrees to participate in an ice bucket challenge at the Roswell Festival.

Woof!

The annual Roswell Festival also includes a pet costume contest.

Welcome to Roswell

Many of the visitors at the festival go to great lengths with their costumes and props.

“Make the Universe Great Again”

Participants at the annual parade portion of the festival carry light-up, DIY props and custom hats.

Roswell Festival Parade

Marchers simulate an alien being operated on for the annual evening parade.

Light the Way

Josh Gates crashes the annual Roswell Festival parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Roswell incident.

Friendly Interpretation

Two of the fest’s younger participants imagine what alien life might look like for the annual costume contest.

Safety First

This participant in the annual costume contest took a slightly more classic approach with his interpretation of an extraterrestrial.

Bigger is Better

Aliens probably have ventriloquist skills, too, right?

Decisions, Decisions

Josh Gates helps to judge the annual costume contest at the Roswell Festival.

Points for Creativity

Josh Gates and the other judges prepare to announce the winner of the annual costume contest.

We Want to Believe

Josh Gates gathers with a group of contestants at the Roswell Festival’s annual costume contest.

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Hunt for Extraterrestrials

Josh Gates Goes to Roswell

Shop This Look

Roswell UFO Museum

Roswell UFO Museum

Strange Museum Visitors

Greetings, Earthling

Man Down

Photo Opp

Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner

Timelines

Alien Experiments

Roswell Mania

Roswell Mania

I Want to Believe

A Sighting in Roswell

Close Encounter of the Brrr Kind

Woof!

Welcome to Roswell

“Make the Universe Great Again”

Roswell Festival Parade

Light the Way

Friendly Interpretation

Safety First

Bigger is Better

Decisions, Decisions

Points for Creativity

We Want to Believe