The Pentagon

On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 and crashed it into the northwest side of the Pentagon, killing 125 people working at the Pentagon and 59 people aboard the plane. The Pentagon has since been completely restored and tours are once again available, in accordance with certain procedures .

You'll be touring the headquarters for the American military establishment, which is one of the world's largest office buildings -- it houses about 23,000 employees. The free, 60-minute tour covers 1 1/2 miles as it takes you along corridors commemorating the history, people, and culture of the Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marine Corps.

The tour also includes a visit to the Pentagon Memorial, better known as the 9/11 Memorial. The memorial, which is located on the northwest side of the building, near where the plane crashed, opened to the public on the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, September 11, 2008. On view are 184 granite-covered benches, each engraved with a victim's name, and arranged in birth date order. The names are written in such a way on each bench that you must face the Pentagon to be able to read the names of those killed there and face away from the Pentagon, toward the western sky, to read the names of those who perished on the plane. To me, at least, the benches resemble birds about to take flight.

Pentagon tours are available Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm; if you are a friend or family member related to personnel assigned to the Pentagon, an active-duty military person, or a school, church or other group, you can request the tour online, at http://pentagon.afis.osd.mil. Individuals and families must contact their senator's or representative's office and ask a staff person in charge of constituent tours to arrange for the tour. Please note: You do not need to sign up for a Pentagon tour to visit the 9/11 Memorial, which is outside and open to the public 24 hours a day, every day. The best way to reach the memorial is to take the Metro to the Pentagon station and follow the signs that lead from the station to the northwest side of the Pentagon. Memorial staff are on hand to answer questions daily between 10am and 8pm.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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