Diefenbunker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canadian Forces Station Carp
Carp Diefenbunker gate and entrance
Location	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Founded	1962
Founder	Diefenbunker Development Group
Built	1959–1961
Original use	Emergency Government Headquarters
Current use	Museum
Architect	Foundation Corporation of Canada, L. Col. Ed Churchill
Governing body	Diefenbunker, Canada's Cold War Museum
Website	Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name: Diefenbunker / Central Emergency Government Headquarters National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	1994

The Diefenbunker is a huge underground building near Carp, Ontario, about 30 kilometers west of Ottawa. It was once a secret military base known as Canadian Forces Station Carp (CFS Carp). This four-story bunker was built to protect important government officials.

It was designed to be a safe place during the Cold War, a time when countries worried about nuclear attacks. From 1957 to 1961, Canada's government, led by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, built this bunker. Its purpose was to keep the government running even if a nuclear war happened.

In 1994, the Diefenbunker was closed down. Later that year, it was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it's a very important place in Canadian history. It shows how Canada prepared for the Cold War and how determined people were to survive.

A special plaque at the Diefenbunker explains its importance:

Known as the "Diefenbunker," this building is a strong symbol of Canada's response to the Cold War. It was designed in the 1950s to survive almost any nuclear attack. Its goal was to shelter key leaders during such an event. Luckily, it was never used for this purpose. However, the Diefenbaker government planned to use it during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The bunker was a central point for communications and safety systems until it closed in 1994.

In 1998, the Diefenbunker opened again as a museum. It's now called "Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum." Visitors can explore this amazing underground facility all year round.

A Secret Underground Bunker

This is the blast tunnel entrance. The real bunker doors are at a right angle to this tunnel. This design helps reduce the impact of a nuclear shock wave.

The unit crest of CFS Carp. Its motto was Communicate and Protect.

What Was the Cold War?

The Cold War was a period from the late 1940s to the early 1990s. During this time, there was a lot of tension between the United States and its allies (like Canada) and the Soviet Union. Both sides had many nuclear weapons. People worried about a nuclear war, which could cause massive destruction.

Why Was the Diefenbunker Built?

In 1958, during the height of the Cold War, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker decided to build many emergency bunkers across Canada. These shelters were nicknamed "Diefenbunkers." They were part of a plan called "Continuity of Government." This plan aimed to protect government leaders and ensure Canada could still function after a nuclear attack.

The Carp Diefenbunker was the largest of these shelters. It was meant to be the main emergency headquarters for the government.

Building a Nuclear-Proof Shelter

The first location chosen for the bunker was abandoned because of water problems. So, an old gravel pit near Carp was chosen instead. Construction started in 1959 and finished in 1962.

This huge underground bunker has four stories and covers over 9,300 square meters. It took 32,000 tonnes of concrete and 5,000 tonnes of steel to build. The bunker was designed to survive a nuclear blast from 1.8 kilometers away. It had giant blast doors and special air filters to keep out radiation.

Inside, there were supplies for 565 people to live for up to a month. This included food, fuel, and fresh water. The bunker also had a special studio for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). This studio would have been used to broadcast emergency messages. There was even a vault on the lowest level to keep Canada's gold reserves safe.

Other smaller facilities were built nearby to help with communications. These included a transmitter site near Perth, Ontario, and receiving stations near Almonte, Ontario and Dunrobin.

From Bunker to Museum

The Museum's Journey

The Diefenbunker was no longer needed after 1994. This was because the threat of nuclear war had lessened. The Canadian Department of National Defence, which owned the site, closed it down.

Local people became very interested in the bunker. They wanted to see inside this secret place. A group of volunteers decided to turn it into a museum. They saw its value for history and tourism. In 1998, the Diefenbunker Development Group bought the facility. It officially opened as "Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum."

What You Can See Today

Today, the museum is open all year for public tours. Many parts of the bunker have been restored to look like they did when it was operational. You can see the Prime Minister's Suite, the Emergency Government Situation Centre, and the CBC Emergency Broadcasting Studio. You can also visit the Bank of Canada Vault.

The other 358 rooms now hold exhibits about the Cold War era. The museum also hosts the world's largest escape room!

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  This is a re-creation of the small living area for the Prime Minister. It's said that John Diefenbaker never wanted to use the bunker because his wife couldn't join him.

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  This was the main conference room. It was designed to keep Canada's government running during a nuclear attack.

Learning and Exploring

Collections and Research

The Diefenbunker has many items from the Cold War. It also has an archive and a library. These are available for researchers who want to learn more. The public can also see many of these items in the museum's exhibits.

How the Museum is Supported

The Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum is a charity. It doesn't make a profit. Most of its money comes from ticket sales. The museum also applies for grants from different levels of government. Donations and support from the community are also very important.

More Than Just Tours

Besides tours, the Diefenbunker offers other services. You can rent spaces in the museum for events. The old bunker has even been used as a set for movies, like The Sum of All Fears and Rulers of Darkness.

See also

• Emergency Government Headquarters, a network of regional bunkers and radio stations across Canada.
• Nuclear War Survival Skills, a civil defence manual.
• Protect and Survive, a United Kingdom government public information campaign on civil defence for a nuclear war.
• Survival Under Atomic Attack, a United States government booklet released during the Cold War.