The Pentagon, one of the world's largest office buildings, is the headquarters of the Department of Defense. Located in the Washington, D.C., area, the five-sided building has three times the floor space of the Empire State Building. Each year, about 100,000 visitors explore displays and memorials in the Pentagon's halls with the help of tour guides, all of whom are active U.S. military service members.
Tour Details
You must follow important details and security guidelines to reserve a Pentagon tour and be cleared to enter the Pentagon for your tour. Tours fill up quickly, and reservations are required at least 14 days in advance through
this website
.
We want you to enjoy your time exploring military history at the Pentagon, and that can only happen if you are aware of and follow these security guidelines. There are no exceptions, and noncompliance will result in the tour being terminated.
To take a guided tour of the Pentagon, you must make a reservation using the Pentagon Tour Reservation Portal. Each adult member of your tour group must then register as a Pentagon Visitor and be cleared by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency to visit the Pentagon for your tour. Tours can fill up quickly, so booking your tour well before your visit is advisable. Reservations may be booked from 14 to 90 days in advance.
You can manage your existing tour reservation and monitor the visitor registration and security review status of your adult tour group members by logging into your My Tours Account on the Pentagon Tour Reservation Portal.
The use of public transportation or taxis is strongly recommended in the Washington, D.C., region because parking is very limited and traffic is often heavy.
After arriving at the Pentagon Station, exit the platform through the turnstile and take the left escalator to the top. Once off the escalator, veer left around the barrier and turn right into the Pentagon Visitor Entrance.
Once parked, walk across Army Navy Drive, and proceed through the Hayes Street Pentagon Pedestrian Tunnel to the Pentagon South parking lot.
Walk through the Pentagon South parking lot and cross North Rotary Road to the sidewalk between the two big staircases ahead. Turn right along the North Rotary Road sidewalk and follow the signs to the Pentagon Visitor Entrance.
Taxis and Ride Share drivers can drop off and pick up passengers on the sidewalk at the right side of North Rotary Road between the large stairwells for Corridors 2 and 3.
After drop-off, walk counterclockwise around the Pentagon building and follow signs to the Pentagon Visitor Entrance.
Pentagon History
1941
1942
1943
1976
1989
1992
1998
2001
2008
2011
Sept. 11, 1941
Construction Begins
Congress authorizes construction of the Pentagon, and ground is broken Sept. 11. The land belonged to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee before it was confiscated during the Civil War.
April 29, 1942
First Occupants Move In
While the Pentagon's construction is not complete, the first employees begin working inside the building.
Jan. 15, 1943
Construction Complete
The Pentagon officially opens. The 16-month project required the skill of 1,000 architects and the labor of 14,000 tradesmen working three shifts, 24 hours a day. At the height of World War II, the Pentagon housed more than 33,000 occupants.
May 17, 1976
Pentagon Tours Established
The Pentagon tours program is established to support the nation's bicentennial celebration. Initially, the program was to last through the 4th of July and then be disbanded; however, internal support and public demand were so great that the program has continued ever since.
1989
Historic Place
The Pentagon is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
1992
Designated as Historic Landmark
The Pentagon is designated a National Historic Landmark, with emphasis on these elements: The five outer facades of the building; The Central Courtyard and its surrounding façade; The terrace fronting the Mall Entrance; The terrace fronting the River Entrance; The building's distinctive five-sided shape.
1998
Renovations Begin
Pentagon renovations begin, one wedge at a time. Building systems are modernized, and a new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified Metro entrance, delivery facility and fitness center are created.
Sept. 11, 2001
9/11 Terrorist Attack on the Pentagon
American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon. Fifty-nine people on the plane and 125 people inside the building perished.
Sept. 11, 2008
9/11 Memorial Dedicated
The Defense Department honors those killed in the 9/11 attack with the opening of the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.
The Pentagon renovation project is complete. With about 4 million square feet of space, renovations included the removal of all hazardous materials, replacement of all building systems, addition of new elevators and escalators to improve vertical circulation, and installation of new security and telecommunications systems.
The Department of Defense provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security.
