The Pentagon

The Pentagon is a very big building.

It has five sides. It sits near a river in Virginia.

Long ago, leaders needed more space. They built the building very fast. They used concrete instead of steel. This helped save steel for the war.

Many people work inside the walls. It is a very large office. There are many halls to walk through.

In 2001, a sad thing happened. A plane hit the building. Many people were lost that day.

Now, there is a place to remember them. It is a quiet spot for peace. The building is still a very important place.

The Pentagon is a huge office building in Arlington, Virginia.

It is the home of the U.S. Department of Defense. This department leads the nation's military.

Before the Pentagon, the War Department was spread out. Many offices were in small, temporary buildings. Leaders needed one large place for everyone. During World War II, they built the Pentagon very fast.

They used a lot of concrete instead of steel. This helped save steel for the war.

The building has five sides and five floors. It also has two levels in the basement. It is the second largest office building in the world. About 23,000 military and civilian workers use the offices.

There are many long halls called rings. You can walk between any two points in less than ten minutes.

In 2001, a sad event happened. A plane hit the western side of the building. Many people died that day. Since then, the building has been repaired. There is now a quiet memorial to remember those lost.

The Pentagon is a massive building in Arlington, Virginia.

It sits across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. This building serves as the headquarters for the United States Department of Defense. People often use the name "The Pentagon" to talk about the department itself. It is a very important center for the nation's military leaders. The building is actually the second-largest office building in the entire world. It is a huge symbol of the United States military today.

Inside, the building has a very unique shape. It has five sides and five floors above the ground. There are also two levels in the basement.

The building uses five rings of corridors on each floor. These rings are named "A" through "E" starting from the center. There are also "F" and "G" rings in the basement. You can walk between any two points in the building in less than ten minutes. This is possible by walking through the open-air central courtyard.

Before this building existed, the War Department was spread out. Offices were kept in many small, temporary buildings.

During World War II, leaders needed a single place for everyone. General Brehon Somervell helped get approval for the new project. The architect was George Bergstrom and the builder was John McShain. Ground was broken on September 11, 1941. The building was finished and dedicated on January 15, 1943. It was built very quickly during a time of war.

Building the Pentagon required smart planning and many workers. To save steel for the war, they used reinforced concrete instead. They used 680,000 tons of sand from the Potomac River.

The total cost to build it was about $83 million. About 23,000 military and civilian employees work there now. There are also about 3,000 other support workers on site. The building has many entrances, including the River Entrance and the Metro station. It even has its own special ZIP codes for different branches.

History has also brought some very sad times to the building. In 2001, during the September 11 attacks, a plane hit the western side.

This event caused many people to lose their lives. The building was later repaired to make it safe again. A small indoor memorial and a chapel were added at the site. In 2009, an outdoor memorial was opened just outside the building. These sites help people remember those who were lost that day.

The Pentagon is the headquarters for the United States Department of Defense. It is located in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Because it is the center of military leadership, people often use the name "The Pentagon" to refer to the entire Department of Defense.

The building is the second-largest office building in the world. It spans a massive area and includes a large central courtyard. The structure has five sides and five floors above the ground. There are also two basement levels. The building's design uses five concentric rings of corridors on each floor. These rings are named "A" through "E" starting from the center. The basement also contains "F" and "G" rings.

Navigating the building is a unique experience. The corridors radiate out from the central courtyard. The "E" Ring is the outermost ring and is the only one with views of the outside. Because of this, senior officials often occupy these offices. Office numbers follow a specific system based on floor, ring, and corridor. For example, an office number might include the floor and the ring letter. Despite its enormous size, a person can walk between any two points in less than ten minutes. This is possible by using the radial corridors or walking through the open-air courtyard.

Before the Pentagon was built, the War Department faced a major space problem. Its offices were scattered across many temporary buildings in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Some of these structures were located on the National Mall. As World War II approached, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson realized the department needed a single headquarters. In 1941, General Brehon Somervell helped create a plan for a new building. The project was overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under Colonel Leslie Groves.

Construction began on September 11, 1941, and was completed on January 15, 1943. The project moved on an accelerated schedule due to the war. The building was designed by architect George Bergstrom and built by contractor John McShain. To save steel for war needs, engineers used reinforced concrete instead. They used 680,000 tons of sand dredged from the Potomac River to make the concrete. The total cost for the construction was approximately $83 million. The building was constructed in sections, or "wedges," so people could move in as soon as parts were finished.

The Pentagon is a very busy place. Today, about 23,000 military and civilian employees work inside the building. There are also about 3,000 non-defense support personnel on site. The building has several entrances, such as the River Entrance and the Concourse. It is so large and important that it has six different ZIP codes. These codes are divided among the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the four military service branches.

History also includes a very difficult period for the building. On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 struck the western side of the Pentagon. This attack killed 184 people, including 59 people on the airplane and 125 people inside the building.

This was the first major foreign attack on federal facilities in the capital area since the War of 1812. After the damage was repaired, a small indoor memorial and a chapel were added at the site of the impact. In 2009, an outdoor memorial was opened southwest of the building to honor the victims.