For years now, David Marler has dreamt of creating a first-of-its-kind public archive in Rio Rancho to house his immense collection of historical UFO records.
Tuesday night, that dream came true at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School with the unveiling of the National UFO Historical Record Center.
Rio Rancho Public Schools and Marler, celebrated the opening of Marler’s UFO center at MLK and a new partnership aimed at preserving significant historical resources and fostering educational opportunities within the community. Marler has had a lifelong interest in UFOs and has actively investigated and researched the subject for 32 years.
Marler, a Rio Rancho resident and executive director of the UFO center, has accumulated one of the largest personal libraries of UFO books, journals, magazines, newspapers, microfilm, audio recordings, and case files from around the world covering the last 75-plus years.
For over a decade, Marler has displayed his collection in his Rio Rancho home. Now, Marler’s records will be displayed in two portable classrooms at MLK.
The partnership with RRPS, which is expected to last five years, stems from a shared vision to protect historical resources and promote scientific fields of study in Rio Rancho.
“What we’ve assembled here today has never been assembled before in the history of this country, namely, the largest concentration of historical materials on the subject of UFOs ever in the United States,” Marler said. “That’s a big statement, but it’s one I stand by, and it’s one that nobody can challenge.”
Nearly 100 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at MLK including Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, Sandoval County Commission Chair Dave Heil, Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce president/CEO Jerry Schalow and RRPS representatives.
“It’s more than just an opening today, it’s a symbol of creativity, of curiosity, of innovation,” RRPS Board President Amanda Galbraith said. “We’re all about innovation here at Rio Rancho Public Schools, and we are striving to nurture not only our students, but our community. It reflects our fascination with the unknown, but also our commitment to educate those who are around us. It gives us endless possibilities.”
Marler is among the leading UFO historians and archivists in the world. His Rio Rancho home held dozens of four-drawer file cabinets with government documents, reports, case files, hundreds of thousands of news clippings and more than 1,500 books cataloged. All of his archives along with hundreds of historic audio recordings and museum-quality artifacts from the USAF Project Blue Book can now be enjoyed by the public at the records center.
RRPS is working with the center to provide innovative ways for students and parents to engage in educational opportunities that promote historical research, critical thinking, and scientific investigation.
“We are excited to embark on this unique partnership with the National UFO Historical Records Center,” said Michael Baker, chief operations officer. “This collaboration will not only preserve important historical documents but also provide our students with exceptional educational experiences.”
The UFO center will be free to access, and it will operate off of donations and volunteers. To visit the public archive, Marler said you’ll have to submit a request on their website.