Think You Know Defense? Take This Pentagon Quiz to Prove It

The Pentagon serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, meaning it's the operational hub for all military branches—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Space Force. It’s where top military strategy is planned and implemented. While intelligence operations happen in places like the CIA, and finances are handled by the Treasury, defense leadership and coordination are centralized in the Pentagon.

The Pentagon has five floors above ground, along with two basement levels. Its flat shape and efficient layout were designed for wartime speed and cost-saving. Despite its enormous size and the complexity of the agencies it houses, the building was designed so that any point can be reached from another in under 10 minutes due to its concentric rings and radial corridors.

The Pentagon is part of the Executive Branch, as it is run by the Department of Defense, which reports directly to the President through the Secretary of Defense. This branch is responsible for enforcing laws and overseeing national defense. Judicial and Legislative branches have their own separate authorities and physical locations in Washington, D.C.

The building is shaped like a pentagon, meaning it has five sides. The shape was chosen partly due to the original plot of land where it was to be built, though it was later relocated and the design retained. This design is now iconic and symbolizes American military power, often referenced in politics, media, and culture.

The Pentagon is located in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. While many people assume it's inside the capital, it technically sits within Virginia’s boundaries. Its proximity to Washington allows for strategic access to government offices while being on more available land.

The Pentagon was completed in 1943, during World War II. Its construction began in 1941 and took just over a year, which was a massive engineering and logistical feat given its size, complexity, and wartime urgency. It became a symbol of the U.S. wartime mobilization effort and remains one of the world’s largest office buildings.

The Pentagon was heavily damaged during the September 11 attacks in 2001 when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the western side of the building. This tragic event resulted in the deaths of 189 people and prompted a massive reconstruction project. It reinforced the Pentagon’s significance as not just a military symbol but also a target of national importance.

The Pentagon houses the Department of Defense, which oversees the U.S. Armed Forces and coordinates military strategy and operations. It is the nerve center for military planning, budgeting, and national security policy. Other departments like Homeland Security and Energy operate from different federal buildings and serve different functions.

As the name suggests, the Pentagon has five sides. This geometric shape was maintained even after the original site was changed, and it contributes to the building’s layout: five concentric rings connected by corridors. It’s not just symbolic but also highly functional in navigating a massive workforce efficiently.

The Pentagon was constructed in an astonishing 16 months, a record time for such a massive structure. The urgency of World War II and the need for a centralized military command structure drove rapid development. At its peak, thousands of workers were on-site daily, and materials were sourced quickly to meet tight deadlines without sacrificing structural integrity.