Touring the Pentagon: As You Can Imagine, It's Hardly Self-Guided

So, I have a friend who works at the Pentagon.  (Not really.  I'm just making a point here).  She told me her office is 2B315.  And I can't find it.  Those numbers and letters tell you everything you need to know for which floor she is on, which of the many corridors she is near, and finally in which office you can find her.  I don't really have any such friend, but if I did, she'd have to come to me for lunch.

The Pentagon has to be one of the most unique building designs in the world.  Five sides, five floors, and five corridors arranged in rings from the outside-in with a five-sided courtyard in the middle.  Over 17 miles of corridors.  The Pentagon tour takes you over about one and half of these miles and hits some amazing highlights in this truly fascinating building.

Tours of the Pentagon must be arranged at least two weeks in advance, so don't let poor planning keep you from this one.  A member of the military's ceremonial units will be your guide as you tour the home for our Department of Defense, the base for each of the four branches of our military, the Army, Airforce, Navy, and Marines.

The tour was designed in 1776 as a bicentennial fundraiser; but due to its popularity, it continues today.  The Hall of Heroes honors every recipient of the Medal of Honor, and the Native American display pays tribute to the important role Native Americans have held in our history.  One of the newest but most poignant highlights of the tour is the 9/11 memorial dedicated to the 184 lives lost at the Pentagon and on the plane that crashed into it during the September 11 attacks.  This memorial was uniquely designed as a beautiful tribute to the lives it celebrates.

A tour of the Pentagon can be requested with Washington D.C. educational tours, one of the most requested cities for student groups.   This tour will certainly heighten any student's awareness of our prestigious military and the role of our Department of Defense.  Plus, that office numbering system will probably make a lot more sense.  (Check out the video below for more photographs).