The Black Mailbox is a famous landmark located along Nevada State Route 375, also known as the Extraterrestrial Highway, near the small town of Rachel, Nevada. Despite its name, the original mailbox was black but has since been replaced by a more secure white mailbox, and later other versions, including one painted green. The mailbox belongs to a local rancher, Steve Medlin, who moved it off the highway after repeated mail theft and vandalism, including bullet holes in the original box
. The Black Mailbox gained notoriety as a popular meeting spot for UFO enthusiasts and extraterrestrial seekers due to its proximity to Area 51. It has been a decades-long gathering place where visitors leave messages, trinkets, and other offerings inside the mailbox, hoping to communicate with or spot alien spacecraft. The site is often covered with stickers and graffiti from visitors and has become an offbeat American landmark for those interested in UFOs and alien lore
. The mailbox is located at the intersection of State Route 375 and Mailbox Road, a dirt road that leads toward Area 51. It serves as a convenient spot for stargazing and UFO watching, with very little light pollution in the area. However, the original black mailbox has been replaced multiple times due to theft and vandalism, and as of late 2024, the mailbox has disappeared again, with locals installing new versions from time to time
. In summary, the Black Mailbox is not an official Area 51 mailbox but a rancher's mailbox that became a cultural icon and gathering place for UFO enthusiasts on the Extraterrestrial Highway in Nevada
