The Pentagon
Sign in to saveheadquarters of the United States Department of Defense; named after the shape of the building, a polygon with five (greek: penta) sides
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The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, named after the distinctive five-sided shape of the building itself. It matters because it serves as the central command center for the U.S. military and the primary workplace for the Secretary of Defense and top military leadership.
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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 building was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase The Pentagon is often used as a metonym for the Department of Defense and its leadership.
The building was designed by American architect George Bergstrom and built by contractor John McShain. Ground was broken on 11 September 1941, and the building was dedicated on 15 January 1943. General Brehon Somervell provided the major impetus to gain Congressional approval for the project. Colonel Leslie Groves was responsible for overseeing the project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which supervised it.
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1943 establishments in VirginiaAmerican Airlines Flight 77Buildings and structures in Arlington County, VirginiaGovernment buildings completed in 1943Government buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in VirginiaJoint military headquartersMilitary headquarters in the United StatesMilitary installations in VirginiaNational Historic Landmarks in VirginiaNational Register of Historic Places in Arlington County, Virginia