The Integratron was created by George Van Tassel and was based on the design of Moses' Tabernacle, the writings of Nikola Tesla, and telepathic directions from extraterrestrials. The domed structure, 35 feet high and 55 feet in diameter, was originally constructed of wood and fiberglass without the aid of metal fasteners. In 1947 Van Tassel began operating the Giant Rock Airport a short distance northeast of here, and in 1953 initiated communications with extraterrestrials. He subsequently hosted 17 spacecraft conventions for UFO enthusiasts. The Integratron's purpose was the rejuvenation of the human body, similar to recharging a battery, and basic research in time travel. According to Van Tassel, the Integratron stood at an intersection of powerful geomagnetic forces that, when focused by the building's unique geometry, would concentrate and amplify the energy required for cell rejuvenation. This energy was created by the revolution of an external ring at the shoulder of the building, generating electrostatic forces fed to the stator centered in the lower room. Construction began in 1957, but the building was incomplete at Van Tassel's death in 1978.