diefenbunker - canada's cold war museum

mmark5

Interesting to see. Great tour guide. Morning 11 am is English tour, 2 pm French tour. A lot of walking, 4 levels to see. Wheelchair or strollers accessible.

619ianm

A little far out of town. Either a guided bus tour or a car is needed to get to the museum. It does show the government bomb shelters of the 1960s made to keep government going in the case of nuclear war. Very interesting for history buffs

Marieskey

Thank you for taking the time to write about your visit to the Diefenbunker! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit and allowed yourself ample time to explore. We do have a number of volunteers who were involved in the Bunker while it was operational (or were to be posted here if the Cold War turned hot), however there is also a great team of younger guides who have a passion for history despite being born at the tail end of the Cold War or later! We hope you do come back again!

michaelbE6577DT

Thanks for taking the time to write about the Bunker, Mike! Our team of volunteer guides (yourself included) makes the Diefenbunker experience that much more memorable. We're so fortunate to have a GREAT group of volunteers that help us to keep this place running. I'm sure I speak for the whole team when I say we couldn't do it without each and every one of you!

DeeCabe

Definitely happy we timed it right to take a tour with a tour guide. At the end of our tour, I overheard others from a self-guided tour saying that it "was more exciting to go further down the bunker, but there was less to see the further down you went". With the guide, he managed to make all the levels interesting through stories and by pointing out historical details that we wouldn't have known. It was a relatively relaxed tour and the guide, Marc, asked us about ourselves and our reason for visiting so he could highlight aspects of the museum that were of particular interest to us. He even assigned us roles as we discussed a few scenarios while we moved through the bunker. Lots of historical information, but not too overwhelming, even for my 12 year old nephew. We spent a couple of hours here, so it is great for a short day trip that still leaves you some time to do other activities. And, the admission price is very reasonable.

Deborah700

It's like time stood still, when touring through the Diefenbunker. This time, in our history, reveals Canada's response to possibilities that will effect our country. The museum holds a time period that would be of interest to all ages. The tour guides are very informative. I did enjoy this place of interest.

Jacqueline2768

It's not hard to set yourself back in time to the Cold War Era when you visit the Diefenbunker and see how it was set up for a group of people to live underground following a nuclear attack. There are so many interesting facts to learn about while you tour the large facility. Most people wonder if they would have wanted to survive a nuclear blast to live underground with a group of people and how they would have reacted in that environment. I am glad the facility has been preserved so we can see what we learned about in History books. When you see how things are set up, you really feel how real the threats were in those times.

Ed3463

Those who don't remember their history are condemned to repeat it. so you must see the Diefenbunker, if nly toi remind yourself of how close to the edge we have been (and maybe arfe still, today!)

174ashb

Have visited for the Tour. A really interesting area outside of Town near Carp. See it if you have time, especially if interested in the militaria or the cold war.

Voyage_familial

We're so glad to hear that you and the family enjoyed your visit to the Diefenbunker! As you pointed out, the Machine Room is out-of-bounds for visitors (for safety reasons), but we've produced a digital walk-through of the space to make it more accessible. In case you missed it while you were here, you can find it by following this link: http://diefenbunker.ca/3d-walk/index.html (aussi disponible en français). We hope that you come back in the future - perhaps to enjoy some of our children's programming!

TouristEric

If you have any interest at all in the cold war era this museum will fascinate you. And, even if you are not a war historian, visiting this museum is a little walking into a time capsule. I had almost forgotten what main frame computers and typewriters look like! I've been three time in the last 6 years with guests from out of town. The tour guides all know their stuff, but if you're really lucky you'll get the guide who actually worked their when it was an operational bunker. Plan on spending 90 minutes to 2 hours. Then go home to watch the Tom Clancy movie Sum of All Fears, in which the Diefenbunker is featured (for about 15 to 20 second) in the first or second scene.

314DavidL314

It is difficult for young people today to imagine how the fear of atomic war gripped the world during the Cold War. The Diefenbunker - the underground shelter bored deep into the countryside west of Ottawa - is a perfect example of the depths (pun intended) country's went to in preparing for nuclear armageddon. It is also a beautiful period piece, depicting the technologies and styles of the late 1950s. Even kids who aren't in love with history, which sadly is most kids, will remember the Diefenbunker positively.

989felipem

The museum is located about 30-40 minutes from downtown Ottawa and is definitely worth the visit if you have the time. It used to be a military facility with four floors that would house up to about 1000 government employees in case of the "apocalypse" of nuclear war. The museum is managed by a non-profit organisation from Carp and is kept pretty well despite the staff being relatively small.The visit can be very inspirational but you should try to follow a guided tour (see their website for updated tour hours). Good for those who would like to know how it would feel to be stuck in a small box for 30 days. Remember to bring a light jacket if you visit in the winter, as it's a little chilly in the lower levels.

JohnG363

we were leaving Ottawa heading back to Toronto and decided to stop here as an afterthought. This place turned out to be a highlight of the trip. An enormous facility underground, well preserved with an interesting history and many rooms with artifacts and stories depicting the cold war, Cuban missile crisis and more. The treats just kept on coming around every hidden corner. The Bank of Canada vault at the center of the complex was really weird. You can take the guided tour but take your time, get the ipod guide which gives a visual and auditory self guided tour so you can explore all the rooms and corridors at your own pace. This place is cool and freaky at the same time.

MVG_5

Although this museum is located about a half hour outside of downtown Ottawa, it is worth visiting. It is a step back in time to see the original furnishings and equipment in this bunker built for the Cold War. A living history lesson!