Cold War Veterans Blog

Once-secret Cold War bunker near Ottawa seeks public donations

CARP, ONT.
Canadian Press

CARP, Ont. - The Diefenbunker, Canada's Cold War Museum, is seeking donations from the public to finance renovations that will allow more people to visit the site.

Currently only 60 people are allowed in at any time, and the museum says it can't meet the demand from people wanting to see the once-secret bunker.

“It will take $1.5 million to retrofit the bunker so we can accommodate up to 500 visitors,” the museum said in a recent newsletter.

About 36,000 people visited the site last year, the museum's 10th anniversary.

The underground shelter in Carp, just west of Ottawa, was operated by the Defence Department for more than three decades, beginning in 1959, as a safe haven for top government officials in the event of nuclear war. Nicknamed after John Diefenbaker, prime minister at the time the facility was built, it was turned into a museum in 1998.

The project to increase its capacity involves changes to meet fire code regulations.

“By contributing to this cause, you'll help ensure that this Cold War artefact is preserved for all,” the museum said.

The Diefenbunker has already received support from the City of Ottawa, Trillium Foundation of Ontario and federal government, executive director Alexandra Badzak said in the newsletter.

The museum collects a wide variety of Cold War-related items. Highlighted in the newsletter is a 1950s children's board game called Uranium, in which players search for uranium deposits to strike it rich.

As well, the Cold War Store store sells games, books and other items, including a T-short with the slogan “One Nuclear Bomb Can Ruin Your Whole Day.”

Donations can be made via the website, www.diefenbunker.c