We’re sure you know the Pentagon is the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., the Pentagon was constructed during World War II from September 1941 to January 1943. The building cost $83 million ($1.56 billion in 2026).
Related: Hippies tried to levitate the Pentagon to end the Vietnam War
Following a pattern of fives, the five-sided edifice features five floors above ground, along with two basement levels, and five ring corridors. Sticking with that theme, here are five things you didn’t know about the Pentagon.
1. It Houses the Highest-Grossing Subway Restaurant
Who’s hungry?
As the headquarters of the Defense Department, the Pentagon hosts approximately 27,000 military, DoD civilian, and non-defense civilian employees daily. To feed all of these people, the Pentagon features a wide array of restaurants commonly found on regular military bases, including McDonald’s, Popeyes, and Subway.
According to the official tour, the Subway in the Pentagon is the franchise’s highest-grossing restaurant in the country. When you’re constantly reporting to general officers, having lunch your way (and made by a sandwich artist, no less) is a small but valuable win.
2. It Is the World’s 2nd-Largest Office Building
Being a Pentagon tour guide is harder than it looks
In order to provide space for all those people to work, the Pentagon covers a massive area.
It features 3.7 million square feet of office space and 67 acres of parking; the inner pentagonal plaza alone covers five acres. The roof stands at 77 feet above ground and the interior corridors stretch for 17.5 miles.
In total, the Pentagon has 6.5 million square feet of floor space, making it the largest office building by total area in the country and the second-largest in the world. Only the Surat Diamond Bourse in India is larger.
Pro fact: The Pentagon also has 7,754 windows (pity the poor window cleaners).
3. FDR Nixed Plans for Segregated Bathrooms
As previously mentioned, the Pentagon was constructed during World War II.
At the time, the state of Virginia enforced racial segregation laws that required separate eating and lavatory facilities for white and Black people. Being built in Virginia, the Pentagon adhered to these laws.
However, following a tour shortly before the building’s dedication, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the removal of the “White Only” signs. Although Virginia Gov. Colgate Darden protested, Roosevelt argued that the federal control of the Pentagon superseded the state’s law.
As a result, the Pentagon was opened as the only non-segregated building in Virginia. The separate bathrooms are still located side by side.
4. It Has DC ZIP Codes, Even Though It Is in Virginia
Although the Pentagon is located in Virginia, it features D.C. ZIP codes.
Adopted in 1963, Zone Improvement Plan codes guide mail to its destination. The first three numbers direct it to a regional facility, while the last two numbers designate a specific delivery post office.
Under federal jurisdiction, the Pentagon uses Washington, D.C., ZIP codes for the Secretary of Defense (20301), Joint Chiefs of Staff (20318), Army (20310), Air Force and Space Force (20330), Navy (20350), Marine Corps (20380).
5. It Has Its Own DMV Facility
Working in a fast-paced environment like the Pentagon, it can be difficult to find time to go to the DMV.
Luckily, Pentagon employees have exclusive access to a DMV facility within the building. Located in Room 2C1049, this Virginia DMV is open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Appointments can be made online and, although you can’t take your driving test at this location, you can get your E-Z pass to make your commute easier.
