The Pentagon, located in Arlington, Virginia, serves as the iconic headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. Designed by architect George Bergstrom and completed in 1943 during World War II, it is one of the world's largest office buildings. Its distinct five-sided shape was dictated by the site's original layout and the need for efficiency in the wartime construction effort. As the nerve center for American military operations, the building houses thousands of military and civilian personnel responsible for national security strategy and defense policy. Beyond its administrative function, it is a significant architectural landmark and a symbol of global military power. On September 11, 2001, the building was the site of a major terrorist attack when American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed into its western facade, resulting in extensive damage and the loss of 184 lives. The structure remains a centerpiece of U.S. government operations and continues to play a vital role in international geopolitics.
4 hours ago : Pentagon Faces Backlash Over Adjusted Iran War Casualty Counts
The Pentagon faces scrutiny after lowering casualty figures for the Iran war on its official website, causing distress among military families. The discrepancy between reported numbers and updated data has sparked significant questions regarding transparency and accuracy in military record-keeping.
11 September 1941: Pentagon Groundbreaking and Contract Finalization
On 11 September 1941, contracts worth $31,100,000 were finalized with contractor McShain and others, and the ground was officially broken for the construction of the Pentagon.
1939: Expansion of the War Department due to WWII
In 1939, following the outbreak of World War II in Europe, the United States War Department underwent a rapid expansion to manage escalating military concerns and prepare for potential American involvement in the conflict.
May 1941: War Department Space Crisis
In May 1941, Secretary of War Henry Stimson informed President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the War Department required more office space to operate effectively.
July 1941: Authorization and Contractor Selection for the Department of War Building
In July 1941, Congress authorized funding to consolidate the Department of War under one roof in Arlington. During this time, General Brehon Somervell selected key construction contractors for the project, including John McShain, Inc., Wise Contracting Company, Inc., and Doyle and Russell.
July 1941: Congressional Hearing on War Department Facilities
On 17 July 1941, Representative Clifton Woodrum held a congressional hearing where he challenged the War Department to find a comprehensive solution to their space issues instead of relying on temporary buildings. Consequently, General Brehon Somervell was tasked with developing a new, long-term facility plan.
September 1941: Groundbreaking of The Pentagon
On 11 September 1941, construction officially began on The Pentagon building, a project championed by General Brehon Somervell and overseen by Colonel Leslie Groves for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
October 1941: Initial Design Phase
In early October 1941, the architectural and structural design work for the Pentagon began, moving forward in tandem with the construction process.
December 1941: Impact of Pearl Harbor Attack
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, intense pressure was applied to accelerate both the design and construction schedules to meet military readiness goals.
April 1942: Leadership Transition
In April 1942, chief architect Bergstrom resigned due to unrelated legal issues, and David J. Witmer was appointed as his replacement on 11 April 1942.
May 1942: Desegregation of Pentagon Cafeterias
In May 1942, Jimmy Harold challenged the Pentagon's segregation policy by refusing to use the Blacks-only basement cafeteria. Following his subsequent assault and an investigation spurred by Judge William Hastie, General Brehon B. Somervell ordered the end of enforced segregation in the building's dining facilities.
June 1942: Completion of Design Work
By 1 June 1942, the majority of the structural and architectural design work for the Pentagon had been finalized, despite ongoing construction challenges.
January 1943: Dedication of The Pentagon
The Pentagon building was formally dedicated on 15 January 1943, marking the completion of the massive facility designed by George Bergstrom and constructed by John McShain.
January 1943: Completion of Construction
The construction of the Pentagon building reached its final completion stage on 15 January 1943.
April 1943: Occupancy Deadline
General Somervell mandated that 1 million square feet of space within the Pentagon be ready for occupancy by 1 April 1943 to support wartime operations.
1965: Overturning of Virginia Racial Segregation Laws
In 1965, the state of Virginia finally overturned its racial segregation laws, which had previously been ignored within the Pentagon due to the facility falling under federal jurisdiction.
February 1967: Women Strike for Peace Demonstration
On 15 February 1967, a group of 2,500 women organized by Women Strike for Peace demonstrated outside the office of Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara at the Pentagon to protest the Vietnam War.
May 1967: Joint Chiefs of Staff Office Sit-in
In May 1967, twenty demonstrators conducted a four-day sit-in outside the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which resulted in the eventual arrest of the participants.
October 1967: March on the Pentagon
On 21 October 1967, approximately 35,000 anti-war protesters organized by the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam marched on the Pentagon. The event featured a confrontation with 2,500 soldiers, iconic imagery of protesters placing carnations into gun barrels, and concluded with a symbolic attempt to exorcise the building.
1968: Opening of the Hall of Heroes
In 1968, the Hall of Heroes was opened on the main concourse of The Pentagon to honor the more than 3,460 recipients of the Medal of Honor, which serves as the highest military decoration in the United States.
May 1972: Weather Underground Bombing of The Pentagon
On 19 May 1972, the Weather Underground Organization detonated a bomb in a fourth-floor women's restroom at The Pentagon. This act of domestic terrorism was carried out as a retaliatory measure against the Nixon administration's escalation of the Vietnam War, specifically the bombing campaign in Hanoi.
1998: Initiation of the Pentagon Renovation Program
In 1998, a comprehensive multi-year renovation project began to gut and reconstruct the Pentagon to modernize the building's infrastructure, enhance security, and improve overall operational efficiency.
September 11, 2001: September 11 Attacks on The Pentagon
On September 11, 2001, five al-Qaeda hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757, into the western side of the Pentagon. This event caused significant structural damage and partial collapse, though casualties were mitigated by ongoing building renovations that had made the specific section hit more resilient.
2001: September 11 Attacks on the Pentagon
In 2001, five Al-Qaeda hijackers intentionally crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the western side of the Pentagon, resulting in the deaths of 184 individuals and causing significant damage to the federal facility.
September 2002: Completion of the Phoenix Project
By September 11, 2002, the Phoenix Project successfully reached its goal of having the outermost offices of the damaged section of the Pentagon occupied following the rebuild effort.
2006: Commencement of Pentagon Memorial Construction
In 2006, the development and construction phase began for the outdoor Pentagon Memorial, a park spanning two acres designed to honor the victims of the September 11 attacks.
March 2007: Anti-Iraq War Protest at the Pentagon
On March 17, 2007, an estimated crowd of 4,000 to 15,000 protesters marched from the Lincoln Memorial to the north parking lot of the Pentagon to express their opposition to the Iraq War.
September 2008: Public Opening of the Pentagon Memorial
On September 11, 2008, the Pentagon Memorial officially opened to the public, featuring 184 benches dedicated to the victims, arranged to reflect the flight path of Flight 77 and the ages of those lost.
2008: Opening of the Pentagon Memorial
In 2008, an outdoor memorial was officially opened to the southwest of the Pentagon to honor and commemorate the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
2011: Completion of Pentagon Renovation Phases
By 2011, the multi-phase renovation of the Pentagon was finalized, which included critical updates such as the removal of hazardous asbestos and the sealing of all office windows to meet modern safety and security standards.
May 2023: Viral Pentagon Explosion Hoax
In May 2023, a fabricated image and false report circulating on social media erroneously claimed that the Pentagon had been bombed, resulting in public panic and a brief downturn in stock market performance.
2024: Inflation Adjustment for Land Acquisition Costs
As of 2024, the $2.2 million original cost incurred for acquiring the 287 acres of land required for the Pentagon's construction is valued at approximately $36.1 million when adjusted for inflation.
2024: Inflation Adjustment of Pentagon Contracts
In 2024, it was calculated that the original $31,100,000 contracts finalized in 1941 for the construction of the Pentagon would be equivalent to $510 million.
2024: Pentagon Construction Cost Adjustment
In 2024, the original construction cost of the Pentagon, which amounted to $83 million during its 16-month building period, was adjusted for inflation to represent a modern value of $1.36 billion.
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