Pentagon

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Lonely Planet review

The US Department of Defense is housed in what may be the world's biggest office building, built in just 16 months during WWII. About 25,000 people work within its more than a dozen miles of corridors, its five sides surrounding a 5-acre courtyard. This formidable edifice appears impenetrable, an impression that was proven wrong on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines flight 77 crashed into its side. Open only for prearranged group tours.

Between the passengers on the airplane and workers in the building, 184 people were killed in this shocking tragedy. Since then the Pentagon building is open only for pre-arranged group tours (call several weeks in advance). Virtual tours are on-line at www.defenselink.mil/pubs/pentagon.