CFS Carp, Nuclear bunker museum in Carp, Canada.
CFS Carp is an underground military museum near Ottawa that consists of four levels extending deep below the surface. The facility contains many rooms that served different purposes, including communication centers, offices, and exhibition spaces that are open to visitors today.
The facility was built between 1959 and 1962 during Cold War tensions as a shelter against nuclear fallout. It was intended to provide a safe refuge for government officials and key institutions if the world faced atomic conflict.
The facility shows how Canada prepared for emergencies during the Cold War, with communication centers and government offices that reveal the concerns of that era. You can see the spaces where officials would have managed the country during a crisis, which reflects what people feared and how they planned to respond.
Visiting on weekdays is best, as there are fewer crowds and tours can feel more relaxed. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket, since temperatures underground remain cool year-round.
The site was designed for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which could operate an emergency broadcast studio underground during times of crisis. It was also prepared as a vault for the Bank of Canada's gold reserves, showing how critical the facility was to the country's economic security.
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