Mercury, Military settlement in Nye County, Nevada.
Mercury is a settlement in Nye County, Nevada, located near U.S. Route 95 in the desert. The site contains multiple buildings with housing, offices, and technical facilities for people working at the Nevada National Security Site.
The settlement was established in 1950 under the name Base Camp Mercury to support activities at the Nevada Test Site. Over the following decades, the place expanded and served as a permanent base for workers in different programs.
Mercury functioned as a contained settlement where scientists, military personnel, and support staff formed a specialized research and testing community.
Access is controlled by the Department of Energy and restricted to authorized personnel only. Visitors without proper clearance cannot enter the site.
The Desert Rock Airport was built in 1962 and received President John F. Kennedy during his visit to inspect the testing facilities. The small airfield also served as an arrival point for other high-ranking guests during that period.
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