The Pentagon

The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Built during World War II, it is one of the world's largest office buildings and a central symbol of U.S. military power.

What it is

The Pentagon is a five-sided building that houses the U.S. Department of Defense. It has about 6.5 million square feet of floor space, with roughly 17.5 miles of corridors, and employs about 23,000 civilians and military personnel on a typical day. The building has seven levels, including two underground floors.

Why it matters

The Pentagon serves as the operational nerve centre for U.S. defence policy and military command. For Canadian readers, it is a key institution in North American security cooperation, given the close defence ties between Canada and the United States through NORAD and other agreements.

Key details

Construction started on September 11, 1941, and was completed in January 1943 under an accelerated wartime schedule. The building was attacked on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into it, causing deaths and severe damage. Public tours are available but require advance scheduling and security clearance.