Artifact Features

From Tool to Artifact: Unveiling the History of a Fire Axe

25 Artifacts: Television

(16/25) In celebration of the Diefenbunker’s 25th anniversary, we continue to highlight 25 artifacts from within our collections. Today, in recognition of World Day for Audiovisual Heritage and our newly opened 2023 Artist-in-Residence exhibition, we are winding it...

Closed-circuit television on the 300 Level of the Diefenbunker.

25 Artifacts: X-Ray Machine

(15/25) In honour of the Diefenbunker’s 25th anniversary, we continue to highlight 25 artifacts from within our collections. This week, with Halloween quickly approaching, we are illuminating all things skeletal and featuring an X-ray machine from the mid 1900s.  ...

X-ray machine from within the Diefenbunker's collections.

25 Artifacts: Baker’s Rack

(14/25) In honour of our 25th anniversary, we are highlighting 25 artifacts from within our collections, and with Thanksgiving right around the corner, we decided to delve into the world of food and feature a baker's rack from the Diefenbunker’s Cafeteria for this...

Baker's rack from the Diefenbunker's collections (2023FIC.003.001)

25 Artifacts: Rotary Telephone

(13/25) In honour of our 25th anniversary, we are highlighting 25 never-before-seen artifacts from within our collections. This week, we are dialing it back to circa 1960 and featuring a rotary telephone.  At the height of the Cold War, telecommunications was...

Rotary telephone from within the Diefenbunker's collections (2000.024.001)

25 Artifacts: Emergency Postcards

(12/25) To continue highlighting 25 artifacts from within our collections for our 25th anniversary, this week we are featuring emergency postcards that were printed and distributed by the Canadian Post Office during the Cold War.  The Canadian Post Office, now...

Emergency Postcards from the Diefenbunker's collections.

25 Artifacts: Identification Card – Lawrence MacDonald

(11/25) In honour of the Diefenbunker’s 25th anniversary, we continue to highlight 25 artifacts from within our collections. This week, we are featuring a Government of Canada identification card issued to the late Lawrence MacDonald.   Born in Swift Current,...

Identification card, Lawrence MacDonald, from the Diefenbunker's collections.

25 Artifacts: Buffalo Forge Fan

(10/25) As Archaeology Month comes to a close, this week's artifact feature in ongoing celebration of our 25th anniversary is a fan from The Buffalo Forge Company, which was designed for use in fallout shelters.   The Buffalo Forge Company was formed in 1878 by...

Buffalo Forge Fan from the Diefenbunker's collections.

25 Artifacts: Peace Button

(9/25) During the third week of August of every year, we celebrate Capital Pride here in Ottawa! This annual Pride event invites the 2SLGBTQ+ community and allies to join in on diverse celebrations that take place in parks and streets throughout the Nation’s...

25 Artifacts: Explosives Box Piece

(8/25) August is Archaeology Month!   To kickstart this month dedicated to celebrating archaeological heritage and to continue highlighting 25 artifacts from within our collections for our 25th anniversary, we are featuring a piece of an explosives box from our...

Explosives Box Piece (2004.002.023) from the Diefenbunker's collections.

25 Artifacts: Curling Trophy

(7/25) In honour of the Diefenbunker’s 25th anniversary, we continue to highlight 25 artifacts from within our collections. This week, in order to bring some chill to an otherwise hot and humid summer, we are featuring a curling trophy from 1984! Curling is a sport...

Curling trophy from the Diefenbunker's collections.
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