1

A renovation project saved thousands of lives on 9/11

On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., killing 189 people. Few people know this part: the death toll could have been much higher. But there was a renovation project underway at the time of the attacks.

The Pentagon’s five-sided structure is divided into five "wedges," and workers had been renovating them one at a time. Flight 77 struck the wedge that had just been completed. Of the 4,500 people who normally worked in that section, only about 800 had moved back in. Without the reinforced construction and the incomplete occupancy, experts believe the casualties would have been catastrophically higher.

2

The Cold War and the hot dog stand

In the middle of the Pentagon’s five-acre center courtyard once stood a modest hot dog stand. According to a Cold War legend (one still retold by official Pentagon tour guides on every public tour), between the 60s and the 80s, Soviet satellite images tracked large groups of high-ranking military officials converging on that small building at the same time every day.

Soviet intelligence reportedly concluded the structure must be the entrance to some underground bunker in America. In reality, all it did was sell lunch. In 2006, the original stand was torn down, and a sandwich shop was built in its place.

3

Its construction began on September 11th, exactly 60 years before the attack

Builders broke ground on the Pentagon on September 11, 1941. That was exactly 60 years to the day before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that would strike the same building.

Construction had been ordered by Army Brigadier General Brehon Somervell, who wanted a permanent headquarters for the Defense Department to replace its then-17 scattered offices across Washington, D.C.

The project was extraordinarily ambitious: plans called for the world’s largest office building to be completed in just 16 months. In the end, the conception, design, and construction of the entire Pentagon building took a total of 15 months.

4

The same person oversaw its construction and the Manhattan Project

Colonel Leslie Groves of the Army Corps of Engineers took charge of Pentagon construction in August 1941. He worked six days a week and drove his team relentlessly, at one point employing more than 15,000 workers around the clock.

When the Pentagon was finished in January 1943, Groves was assigned to lead the Manhattan Project, America’s secret program to build the atomic bomb . His deputy, Captain Robert Furman, followed him into the Manhattan Project as chief of foreign intelligence. Together, the men who built the world’s largest office building went on to produce the weapon that ended World War II.

5

Why is it shaped like that?

The Pentagon’s iconic five-sided shape was the consequence of a geographic accident. The original site selected for the building, near Arlington Cemetery, **happened to be bordered on five sides by roads. **Architects designed the structure to fit those boundaries, producing a pentagonal floor plan. Then President Franklin D. Roosevelt intervened: worried the massive building would obstruct the view of Washington, D.C. from Arlington, he ordered the site moved to its current location along the Potomac River. But the five-sided design had already been drawn up, and nobody changed it.

6

It was the first desegregated building in Virginia

When the Pentagon was designed in 1941, segregation was the law in Virginia. Original plans called for doubled bathroom facilities: separate ones for Black and white employees, as required by Virginia statute. But President Roosevelt had signed Executive Order 8802 in June 1941, prohibiting racial discrimination in federal employment and government contracting.

As a federal building, the Pentagon was exempt from Virginia law. It became the only building in the state where segregation was not enforced. A fully desegregated federal workplace that opened in 1943. The doubled bathrooms were built anyway, as the plans were too far along to revise, but were never used as separately designated spaces.

7

Its construction was surprisingly frugal and incredibly fast

Ground broke on September 11, 1941, and construction finished on January 15, 1943, just 16 months later. More than 15,000 workers were on site around the clock. Wartime office shortages were so severe that employees moved into completed wings before the rest of the building was finished. Steel was too scarce to use extensively, so builders relied almost entirely on reinforced concrete. The 689,000 tons of sand and gravel required came directly from the nearby Potomac River, cutting transportation costs. The project was budgeted at $35 million, but the final bill was $63 million, which would translate to over $900 million in today’s dollars.

8

You can walk between its farthest points in only 7 minutes

The Pentagon is the world’s largest low-rise office building: 6.5 million square feet of space, which is three times the total floor area of the Empire State Building. Each of its five outer walls is 921 feet long. It has 7,754 windows and 17.5 miles of corridors. Approximately 26,000 military and civilian employees report for work there every day.

Despite that scale, the building’s concentric ring design is so efficient that it takes only about seven minutes to walk between its two farthest points.

9

The man who secretly lived inside its walls

During construction, Colonel Groves drove his deputy, Captain Robert Furman, so relentlessly that Furman rarely left the building. To cope, Furman had contractors build him a small, windowless apartment hidden inside the walls of the Army’s Ordnance Division. In this private room, he could sleep and shower without leaving the premises.

When construction ended and personnel dispersed, knowledge of the hidden room was never passed on to building management. Months later, when Furman returned to Washington on Manhattan Project intelligence business, he found the apartment undiscovered and exactly as he’d left it.

For over a year, he would slip back to the Pentagon, pop open a wall panel, spend the night, and emerge in the morning with his suitcase. He was finally caught in 1943 and forced to surrender the keys. It was never disclosed whether the secret apartment was maintained or eventually absorbed back into the official floor plans.

10

It houses over 30 restaurants, including everyone's favorite chains

The Pentagon feeds roughly 26,000 people a day, and its dining options read less like a military headquarters and more like a mall food court. The main Concourse Food Court, which opened in September 2009 and seats 875 people, is the largest of several dining areas.

Confirmed chains currently inside the building include McDonald’s, Five Guys, Subway, Popeyes, Starbucks (multiple locations), Dunkin’ (two locations), Panera Bread, Taco Bell, Panda Express, Baskin-Robbins, Potbelly, Jamba Juice, and Moe’s Southwest Grill, among others. The building also houses a CVS pharmacy, a florist, a jeweler, and a dry cleaner. In the summer of 2024, Potbelly became the first restaurant to open in the center courtyard. Yes, the very spot where the legendary Cold War hot dog stand once stood.

1

"Phone home"

Who wants to phone home…? That’s E.T., of course! In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) , an iconic Steven Spielberg masterpiece, Elliott (Henry Thomas) and his siblings help the sweetest alien in cinematic history contact his own kind, who accidentally left him behind.

Pat Welsh was the actress who lent her voice to the character. And "E.T… phone home" is the unforgettable line the little guy manages to utter.

2

"I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse"

You can imagine the line in a whisper, for better context. But you probably don’t need it. Most viewers will remember this legendary threat, which belongs to The Godfather (1972), directed by Francis Ford Coppola and anchored by Marlon Brando’s unforgettable turn as Vito Corleone.

3

"I see dead people"

A movie no one could watch only once! This line, permanently etched into pop culture, comes from the chilling The Sixth Sense , written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, and delivered with eerie calm by Haley Joel Osment to his costar Bruce Willis.

4

"Life is like a box of chocolates"

Whose mama always said that life was "like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get?" It was Forrest Gump’s, of course!

The unforgettable 1994 movie was directed by Robert Zemeckis and carried by Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance. Spoken on a park bench, the quote summarizes the film’s philosophy: life is unpredictable, but somehow that’s okay.

5

"I’ll have what she’s having"

A little clue: This line is delivered inside a deli. Katz’s Delicatessen, on the Lower East Side of New York, to be specific. But you probably don’t need the clue if you’re a fan of classic rom-coms –or if you’ve watched the infamous scene endlessly shared on the internet.

It is taken, of course, from When Harry Met Sally , directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron. And, did you know? The lady who says the legendary line was played by none other than Estelle Reiner, Rob’s mom, after Sally (Meg Ryan) fakes an orgasm to prove a point to her pal Harry (Billy Crystal).

6

"Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn"

Few lines have ever closed a film with such perfect indifference. This famously unapologetic farewell comes from 1939’s Gone with the Wind , delivered by Clark Gable as Rhett Butler opposite Vivien Leigh’s unforgettable Scarlett O’Hara.

7

"Are you not entertained?"

A booming challenge, roared from a scene filled with blood and sand… Of course, it belongs to none other than Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (2000), starring Russell Crowe in his Oscar-winning performance as Maximus.

8

"You’re going to need a bigger boat"

Dun-dun… This line comes from 1975’s Jaws , Steven Spielberg’s classic, a masterclass in suspense and suggestion. Spoken by Roy Scheider’s police chief Brody, the quote arrives at the exact moment the audience finally sees what’s been stalking them.

9

"I’m the king of the world!"

And speaking of boats… Can you figure out which film this line is from? Kudos if you guessed it: It’s the signature line Leonardo DiCaprio yells from the bow of the Titanic . That’s in the first third of the 1997 movie, while things are still looking sunny and, well, optimistic, for everyone.

10

"I’ll be back"

Threatening, short, and flat. This line comes from 1984’s The Terminator , directed by James Cameron and delivered with robotic calm by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role that defined his career. And yes, he did come back. Many times. Hollywood made sure of it.

11

"It was Beauty killed the Beast"

This is a closing line from a classic. Have you guessed it? It’s from 1933’s King Kong , directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. The film gave audiences groundbreaking special effects, a towering ape with unexpected vulnerability, and a surprisingly heartbreaking ending.

That’s a wrap! How many of the movies could you identify? Did you get a perfect score?

1

Mississippi River (New Orleans)

The Mississippi River, which flows through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, has long served as the backbone of commerce in America. Winding through 10 states, it connects farms, factories, and cities across the country .

New Orleans flourishes at its mouth, which turned it into one of America’s busiest ports. Goods from the Midwest, like grain, cotton, and timber, traveled downriver to ships bound for global markets.

2

Hudson River (New York City)

The Hudson River transformed New York City into the East Coast's leading port, as its deep waters allowed ocean-going ships from the Atlantic to travel far inland .

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When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, it linked the Hudson River to the Great Lakes near Waterford, New York, about 150 miles north of the city. This created a direct trade route between the Midwest and the Atlantic, cementing New York’s economic dominance.

3

Chicago River (Chicago)

Chicago’s rise began with its strategic location along the Chicago River, a short but crucial waterway connecting Lake Michigan to inland routes .

With the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848, Chicago became the gateway between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin, fueling explosive growth in trade and industry.

4

Charles River (Boston)

The Charles River played a central role in early American industry. In the early 1800s, mills along its banks harnessed the river’s power to run machinery .

The nearby textile mills in Waltham helped pioneer the American factory system. The Boston Manufacturing Company mill was the first fully integrated textile factory in the U.S., integrating the spinning, weaving, and finishing processes under one roof. The river’s energy helped transform the Boston region into a major industrial center.

5

Delaware River (Philadelphia)

Philadelphia was founded along the Delaware River, which quickly became one of colonial America’s most important trade corridors.

Ships carrying grain, lumber, and manufactured goods traveled between Philadelphia and the Atlantic . The river helped the city grow into one of the largest and most prosperous ports of early America.

6

Potomac River (Washington, D.C.)

The Potomac River helped determine the location of the nation’s capital, which was established in 1790. This broad waterway was intended to provide access between the Atlantic and the interior of the new country .

Early leaders, like George Washington, hoped the river would become a major commercial corridor linking the young capital to western towns through canals and improved navigation routes.

7

Schuylkill River (Philadelphia)

Flowing through Philadelphia, the Schuylkill River powered much of the city’s early industrial growth. Its waters supported mills and factories throughout the 19th century .

The Schuylkill Canal also carried vast shipments of Pennsylvania anthracite coal, providing the fuel that powered factories and heated homes across the growing nation.

8

Ohio River (Pittsburgh)

The Ohio River begins at Pittsburgh, where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet. This strategic location turned the city into a gateway to the expanding American frontier .

Beginning in the 1810s, steamboats carried settlers and goods downstream to cities like Cincinnati and Louisville, helping Pittsburgh grow into a major industrial and transportation center.

9

Missouri River (Kansas City, Missouri)

The Missouri River served as a key launching point for westward expansion during the 19th century.

Kansas City grew where river trade intersected with overland trails heading west , including the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. The river made the city a critical supply hub for pioneers and traders.

10

Detroit River (Detroit)

The Detroit River links Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, forming a vital passage in the Great Lakes shipping system .

Detroit developed along this busy corridor, where ships transported iron ore, timber, and other raw materials. These resources helped fuel the city’s rise as a manufacturing center.

11

Cuyahoga River (Cleveland)

The Cuyahoga River winds through Cleveland before emptying into Lake Erie, creating a natural harbor that attracted industries .

Steel mills, shipyards, and refineries lined its banks during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, turning Cleveland into one of the Midwest’s most important industrial cities.

12

Colorado River (Las Vegas)

Though best known for carving the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River also helped make the rise of modern cities in the desert Southwest possible .

Projects like Hoover Dam and Lake Mead provided water supplies and hydroelectric power that supported the rapid growth of nearby cities, such as Las Vegas, in an otherwise arid region.