Tour the Pentagon

The Pentagon — the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, — is one of the most remarkable buildings in the world, and it’s open to free guided tours for U.S. citizens who plan ahead. Constructed in just 16 months during World War II at a cost of $31 million and completed in January 1943, the five-sided building contains roughly 6.5 million square feet of floor space across five floors and two basement levels, with nearly 18 miles of corridors. About 25,000 military and civilian employees work here daily. Because of its distinctive shape, the building has six ZIP codes. For many years the Pentagon was the world’s largest office building but new development in India has taken over that spot. It is still the largest office building in the United States.

Tours are offered Tuesday and Thursday only at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (excluding federal holidays), last approximately 60 minutes, cover about 1.5 miles on foot, and are entirely free. The route includes the Hall of Heroes (listing every Medal of Honor recipient), an indoor September 11 memorial and chapel, and displays on each branch of the military. Photography is prohibited inside the building. Tour guides are active-duty service members from the military’s ceremonial units who memorize 33 pages of material. Reservations must be made between 14 and 90 days in advance and fill up quickly — book well ahead at pentagontours.osd.mil. Tours are open to U.S. citizens only; international visitors must arrange access through their country’s embassy.

After the tour, walk 15 minutes to the National September 11th Pentagon Memorial, which is open to all visitors at no charge.