Diefenbunker (CFS Carp)

The Diefenbunker, officially known as Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Carp, is located in the rural community of Carp, Ontario, just outside of Ottawa. It was constructed during the early 1960s as a top-secret Cold War fallout shelter. Today, it operates as a public museum and National Historic Site.

The bunker earned its nickname from Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who commissioned the massive shelter project in 1959. The name was originally coined as a joke by critics, but it eventually became the official moniker. It was built to protect key Canadian government officials in the event of a nuclear attack.

Yes, the Diefenbunker is now a fully operational museum open to the public for tours. Visitors can explore the massive four-story underground facility, including the Prime Minister's suite and the Bank of Canada vault. It also hosts popular espionage-themed escape rooms inside the historic rooms.

The facility extends approximately four stories deep underground, entirely submerged beneath the earth. The structure is surrounded by massive, reinforced concrete walls designed to withstand a nearby nuclear blast. The entire complex covers roughly 100,000 square feet of floor space.