Pentagon Reservation

Pentagon Reservation
Name	Pentagon Reservation
Location	Arlington County, Virginia
Coordinates	38.8719°N 77.0563°W
Established	1941
Area	275 acres
Governing body	United States Department of Defense

Pentagon Reservation

The Pentagon Reservation is the secured federal property that surrounds and includes the Pentagon (building), serving as a focal point for facilities associated with the United States Department of Defense, the United States Army, the United States Navy, and the United States Air Force. Located in Arlington County, Virginia, adjacent to Washington, D.C. and overlooking Potomac River crossings such as the Arlington Memorial Bridge, the Reservation integrates administrative offices, support infrastructure, transportation nodes, and memorials connected to national defense and interagency coordination.

History

The Reservation originated during the mobilization for World War II when land acquisition accelerated in 1941 to site the Pentagon (building), designed by George Bergstrom and constructed under the supervision of John McShain. Early history involved coordination with Arlington County (Virginia) authorities and the United States Congress for appropriations and easements related to Route 110 (Virginia). Postwar expansions reflected the evolution of the United States Department of Defense after the National Security Act of 1947, incorporating offices formerly scattered in Foggy Bottom and other Washington, D.C. neighborhoods. The Reservation's perimeter, formerly more open, was progressively hardened during eras of heightened security such as the Cold War, the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, and subsequent War on Terror adaptations that reshaped vehicle screening, visitor procedures, and perimetric infrastructure.

Geography and Boundaries

The Reservation occupies roughly 275 acres bordered by major infrastructures: Arlington National Cemetery to the east, I-395 to the west, and access routes including Route 27 (Washington, D.C.) and Route 110 (Virginia). Its site sits on the river terrace above the Potomac River with sightlines toward Lincoln Memorial and United States Capitol. The parcel includes both developed building footprints and hardscaped plazas, internal roadways such as Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 1), and curated green spaces that interface with adjacent municipal jurisdictions like City of Alexandria, Virginia. The Reservation's boundaries are defined by federal property deeds, easements negotiated with Arlington County Board, and security buffer zones affecting nearby neighborhoods such as Crystal City and Pentagon City (Virginia).

Purpose and Facilities

The Reservation's primary purpose is to support the Pentagon (building) as the principal headquarters for the United States Department of Defense and its component organizations including the Joint Chiefs of Staff and numerous defense agencies such as the Defense Intelligence Agency and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency administrative offices. Facilities encompass office space, command centers, conference halls, the Pentagon Memorial, medical clinics aligned with Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences affiliates, dining and retail amenities that historically included Pentagon City shopping connections, and logistics nodes servicing installations like Fort Myer and Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall. Transportation facilities include the Pentagon Metro Station on the Washington Metro and surface transit connections to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and intercity rail hubs like Union Station.

Security and Access

Security on the Reservation is enforced by entities including the United States Army Military Police Corps elements assigned as installation law enforcement, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, and collaboration with federal partners such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security. Access control integrates personnel identification systems tied to Common Access Card credentials, vehicle inspection points, anti-ram barriers, and perimeter surveillance coordinated with regional assets like the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia when incidents require interjurisdictional response. Visitor access requires preauthorization through approved escort programs and screenings influenced by legislation such as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, while emergency protocols align with interagency plans practiced with organizations including the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Administration and Jurisdiction

Administrative responsibility for the Reservation involves the United States Department of Defense real property management offices working with the General Services Administration on procurement and construction agreements, while security and day-to-day operations are delegated to the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Jurisdictional matters are shaped by federal supremacy and cooperative agreements with Arlington County (Virginia) for utilities, fire protection (including mutual aid with Arlington County Fire Department), and zoning impacts. Legal matters have referenced instruments such as federal property statutes and memoranda of understanding with agencies including the Department of the Interior for historic preservation assessments tied to the building's National Register-era considerations.

Notable Events and Incidents

Notable incidents include the 1943 Axis espionage concerns during World War II that prompted heightened secrecy, the 1970s and 1980s protests reflecting contentious policy debates involving actors like Vietnam Veterans Against the War and reactions to Cold War posture, and the 2001 terror attack on September 11 attacks when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the western facade of the Pentagon (building), producing large-scale rescue and investigation efforts by agencies including the National Transportation Safety Board and the FBI. Subsequent events have included memorial dedications such as the Pentagon Memorial ceremony and recurring high-profile visits by dignitaries including United States presidents and foreign defense ministers from allies like United Kingdom and NATO representatives. Other incidents have encompassed security breaches, planned demonstrations regulated through coordination with the United States Secret Service when events involve visiting heads of state, and infrastructure upgrades tied to federal funding bills debated in the United States Congress.

Category:Military installations in Virginia Category:Buildings and structures in Arlington County, Virginia