Although the world has moved on from the political-military tensions of the 20th century, the Cold War still remains on people’s minds. Even those born after the fall of the USSR, such as myself, have heard the nearly mythical stories of the government doomsday bunkers. During the Cold War, Americans were told that if WWIII began, the government would survive within a network of underground bunkers. This isn’t just some myth, there were in fact multiple bunkers designed for humanity’s designated survivors. This was not just the case for the US and the USSR. During this time, every other country aligned with these two superpowers possessed their own plan for potential nuclear war.

Recently, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to see the eastern side of Canada. This bucket list itinerary included Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec. While in Ottawa, I went on a tour of the Diefenbunker, a perfectly preserved artifact of the Cold War. Akin to the United States’ NORAD and a multitude of other bunkers meant to shelter government officials, the Diefenbunker was Canada’s contingency plan. In the event of a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union, it was inevitable that allied countries such as West Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada would also be bombed. Because of this, the proper precautions had to be taken to save the Canadian leadership, continue the government, and assist in rebuilding after the fallout.

The Diefenbunker, named after the prime minister at the time George Diefenbaker, was originally constructed between 1957 and 1961 and was meant to serve as the Central Emergency Government Headquarters for the federal Canadian government. The bunker was constructed roughly 30km (19mi) west of downtown Ottawa. This was to help mitigate the blast damage from a nuclear weapon dropped directly on the city. To also survive the detonation, the bunker was constructed within a deep pit of gravel, allowing the complex to vibrate from the shock. This defense is akin to the human brain being separated from the skull via fluids. Although the bunker was designed to survive a nuclear blast, the complex would prove ineffective against present day weaponry. Even during the time of its construction, the bunker was not designed to take a direct hit. With modern day missile guiding technology and GPS systems, the bunker could not avoid being destroyed by simply being far away from the initial target. It was also proven ineffective against bunker busting missile technology developed after the Diefenbunker’s construction.

Although there was a continual staff working at the Diefenbunker, designated members of the government would be shuttled to the site if enemy bombers were detected. Additional officials could arrive later, but would be subject to a thorough decontamination process. Once inside the bunker, there were enough supplies to accommodate 565 people for one month. During this time, the Prime Minister, the Governor General, and the other members of the government would asses the situation and establish connections with the provincial governments. In Canada, each of the ten provinces were responsible for constructing their nuclear bunkers. All but Saskatchewan did so, deeming themselves not at risk of being a target. However, the province was directly north of several US nuclear silos, which were targets. In the event of a nuclear war, the radiation would travel into Saskatchewan, killing the entire population. Our tour guide jokingly explained this to us by stating, “The resulting fumes would kill the entire population. Eight to ten people, gone.”

Best. Shade. Ever.

Before the tour, we entered the bunker via the blast tunnel. This passageway was positioned along the outside of the facility, which would guide the shockwave past the bunker door and not directly at it. One of our many stops within the bunker during the tour was the medical wing, which included several hospital beds, a full surgical suite, and several no smoking signs. Remember, this was the 1960s. Other stops included the main conference room, several office wings, the radio room, the mess hall, and the PM’s quarters. The radio room was especially interesting. This was where the official warning of incoming doom would be broadcasted from. The last stop on our tour was the vault where the Bank of Canada would keep the nation’s gold in the event of a nuclear fallout.

The Diefenbunker is truly a hidden gem. This top-secret-complex-turned-museum allows you to immerse yourself in the world of the Cold War. The museum permits you to explore every inch of the facility, with many of its rooms restored to their original 1960s form. It is amazing to both see and learn about what the life of government officials were like during the Arms Race. For anyone visiting Ottawa, I would highly recommend touring the Diefenbunker.