The World's Largest Office Building

“In the Pentagon, the War Department now had a headquarters that was four times the size of the British War Office at Whitehall, the German Kriegsministerium in Berlin, and the Japanese General Staff headquarters building in Tokyo-combined” (296).

The Book

The Pentagon: A History by Steve Vogel provides an in-depth history of the five-sided building that has become an American icon. I recommend all the books I write about in my blog, but this one is one of the best I have read. Vogel takes the reader through each step of the process and introduces a colorful cast of characters.

Prior to 1941, the War Department was scattered in numerous buildings throughout the Washington, DC area. In peacetime, this was a minor issue. As the war clouds loomed in Europe and Asia, this was becoming a crisis. Brigadier General Brehon Somervell was picked to lead the construction of a new, temporary, War Department building. The pentagon shape was conceived over a weekend to follow the height restriction and space requirements. Somervell promised the first workers would move in one year after construction began. The groundbreaking was September 11, 1941 and the first workers moved into their offices on May 1, 1942. 

The final chapters of the book focus on the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 and the reconstruction of the damaged Pentagon. For anyone who watched the terrorist attacks on television or in person, these chapters bring back many emotions. Instantly you remember where you were and the thoughts you had. The construction crews were committed to rebuild the Pentagon quickly and the first workers moved back in on August 15, 2002. I think Vogel’s final paragraph sums it all up well, “The Pentagon had been conceived over a long weekend. Its design had been one step ahead-and sometimes one step behind-its construction. The pentagonal shape, like so many aspects of the building, was essentially an accident, born of the speed in which the project was pursued. The construction had been slapdash; columns were missing, concrete pours uneven, drawings wrong or missing altogether. Yet somehow the Pentagon was designed wisely and constructed well. Somervell’s building had proven itself one for the ages” (500). 

The Place

The Pentagon is a fascinating place to visit. Tours are provided and you must make reservations in advance. A member of the Armed Forces guides you throughout the halls of the Pentagon explaining each area. There are restrictions when visiting-no photography allowed in the Pentagon and cell phones must be turned off. However, the tour gives visitors a look at the inside of the War Department and the chance to walk where many American heroes have walked.

Included in the tour is the Memorial Chapel for those who died in the September 11^th attacks. This is a solemn location that reminds visitors of the ultimate sacrifice so many people made that day. Outside of the Pentagon is the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. Each bench represents one of the people who perished and the benches are placed in age order, from the youngest to the oldest. Both Memorials are moving and give visitors a chance to reflect on the events of September 11, 2001.