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The Pentagon

Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience

An aerial view of the Pentagon, the main headquarters of the US Department of Defense.

The Pentagon is the main office building for the United States Department of Defense. It is located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.. Construction began quickly during World War II, and the building was finished and ready for use in 1943.

Designed by architect George Bergstrom and built by John McShain, the Pentagon is one of the biggest office buildings in the world. It has five sides and plenty of space for thousands of people to work. About 23,000 military and civilian workers come to the Pentagon every day.

Sadly, the Pentagon was damaged in the September 11 attacks in 2001 when a airplane crashed into part of the building. After that, the damaged part was repaired, and memorials were created to honor those who were affected. Today, the Pentagon remains a very important symbol of the U.S. military.

Layout and facilities

A view of the Pentagon from the south in September 2007

The Pentagon building is very big, covering 28.7 acres, and it has a central courtyard. It has five main entrances on its sides. The north side has a special terrace for ceremonies. Visitors usually enter on the southeast side, where there is a small shopping area.

Inside, the Pentagon is arranged into rings labeled from A to E, with more rings in the basement. Offices are numbered in a way that makes it easy to find them. The building also has places to eat, exercise, and quiet rooms for thinking. Nearby, there are shopping areas and Arlington National Cemetery.

History

The Pentagon, located in Arlington County, Virginia, is the main office for the United States Department of Defense. Before the Pentagon was built, the U.S. Army and the Department of War used many different buildings in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. When World War II began, the United States needed more space for its growing military offices.

Construction of the Pentagon started on 11 September 1941. It was finished in just over a year, and officially opened on 15 January 1943. The building has five sides and was built in sections, so people could start using parts of it while more was being built. The Pentagon was designed to save steel for the war, so it used a lot of concrete instead. Today, the Pentagon remains an important symbol of the United States military.

Main article: Pentagon Renovation Program

Images

Historic view of Washington, D.C. from 1918 showing temporary World War I buildings and famous landmarks like the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.
Historical map showing roads and landmarks around the Pentagon area in 1945.
Entrance to the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon.
Construction workers building the Pentagon in July 1942. This historic image shows the early stages of one of America's most important government buildings.
A view of The Pentagon, a large office building for the U.S. military, with the Potomac River, trees, and the Washington Monument in the background.
The Pentagon building lit up in blue lights to honor the 9/11 anniversary.
A peaceful view of the Pentagon Memorial at dusk, honoring those who have served.
A bird's-eye view of the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C., taken in May 2021.

Related articles

Arlington County, Virginia
World War II
Pentagon
United States Department of Defense
Potomac River
Washington, D.C.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on The Pentagon, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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