The Pentagon The Pentagon The Pentagon, in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase "The Pentagon" is often used as a metonym for the Department of Defense and its leadership. The building was designed by American architect George Bergstrom and built by contractor John McShain. Ground was broken on September 11, 1941, and the building was dedicated on January 15, 1943. General Brehon Somervell provided the major motivating power behind the project; Colonel Leslie Groves was responsible for overseeing the
Construction of the Virginia approaches to Arlington Memorial Bridge 8. The state of Virginia agreed to provide $83,450 to purchase the remaining required rights-of-way. Arlington County provided another $21,122. In January 1936, after a delay of almost 18 months, Arlington County officials said construction would begin in a few months. Much of the construction was funded by the U.S. federal government. But at the last minute, federal funds were withheld because the county had not completed rezoning of the area. The county passed an emergency resolution rezoning the area on April 7. But still the federal government refused to disburse funds. A new problem with easements on federal land