Had nuclear war broken out and the emergency government been sequestered here at the Bunker, the politicians and the military would have needed accurate and timely intelligence to make military decisions. They would need to get their orders out quickly and securely, safe from enemy monitoring.

The Communications Room you’re standing in was very secure. Few people in the Bunker had access to this room. Next door to the Federal Warning Centre, the Comms Room contained loud teletype machines and was remarkably well-soundproofed. Long before faxes, email, texting and WiFi, sturdy and reliable teletype machines connected the Bunker with NORAD, the North American Air Defense Command centres in North Bay, Ontario and Colorado Springs in the United States.

The Bunker’s underground location helped protect top-secret North American intelligence from Soviet surveillance. Go ahead and check your cell phone—what kind of coverage do you get in the Bunker?