Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum

About the Diefenbunker

The Diefenbunker is a massive four-storey underground bunker buried 75 feet below the surface in Carp, Ontario, about 30 km west of downtown Ottawa. Built in 1959 at the height of the Cold War, it was designed to shelter key Canadian government officials — including the Prime Minister — in the event of a nuclear attack. It was nicknamed after Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who authorized its construction.

Decommissioned in 1994 and designated a National Historic Site in 1998, it is now the largest declassified Cold War bunker in Canada open to the public.

What to See

• War Cabinet Room — Where the Prime Minister and cabinet would have directed the country during a nuclear emergency
• CBC Radio Studio — A broadcast room designed to communicate with surviving Canadians
• Bank of Canada Vault — Built to protect Canada's gold reserves during a nuclear war
• Communications Centre — Rows of Cold War-era radio and telecommunications equipment
• Decontamination Showers — Part of the bunker's nuclear fallout procedures
• Medical Station — A fully equipped underground medical facility

Experiences

• Self-Guided Tour — Explore the bunker at your own pace ($13–$19.50)
• Guided Tour — 60-minute tour in English or French ($18.50–$25)
• Escape the Diefenbunker — An escape room set inside the actual Cold War bunker

Admission

Getting There

• By Car: About 30 minutes west of downtown Ottawa via Highway 417 to Carp Road. Free parking on site
• Note: Public transit options are very limited — driving is strongly recommended