CANADIAN WINTER WEATHER NOTICE
Although the Diefenbunker was built to withstand a nuclear blast at the height of the Cold War, sudden winter storms and poor road conditions do occasionally force us to close our blast doors. Over the winter months, we encourage visitors to check our website or call the Museum in advance of any visit to confirm our hours. Thank you!
Ottawa’s Most Unique Historical Site
The Diefenbunker is a four-story, 300 room, 100,000 square foot underground bunker, and was meant to house 535 Canadian government officials and military officers in the event of a nuclear war. Shrouded in mystery, the Diefenbunker, nicknamed after then Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, was designed and built in secrecy during the crest of Cold War fear, between 1959 and 1961. The name of the facility was given by a Toronto Star journalist who exposed a story of its development. Want to know more? Visit us for a tour!
Watch our teaser trailer for a quick peek into our underground bunker! Thanks Ottawa Tourism for the great video!