The Pentagon Memorial honors 184 lives lost on September 11, 2001, with peaceful memorial benches, flowing water, and a powerful design.
Overview
The Pentagon Memorial is one of the most meaningful memorials in the Washington, D.C., area and a place that deserves time and reflection. Located just outside the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, the memorial remembers the 184 people who died in the terrorist attack at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. This includes 125 people inside the Pentagon and 59 passengers and crew members aboard American Airlines Flight 77.
Unlike some memorials that tell their story through large statues or long walls of names, the Pentagon Memorial uses 184 individual Memorial Units. Each unit is a stainless-steel memorial bench with a pool of water beneath it, creating a quiet place where visitors can sit, remember, and reflect. The design also tells part of the story of each victim through the direction and placement of the memorial unit.
History
On the morning of September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. The attack killed 184 people at the Pentagon, including military personnel, civilian employees, contractors, passengers, and crew members.
The Pentagon Memorial was created to provide a permanent place to remember those victims. Architects Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman won an international design competition for the memorial after more than 1,100 submissions were considered. Groundbreaking took place on June 15, 2006, and the memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2008, seven years after the attack.
The memorial was designed around the ages and locations of the victims at the time of the attack. The age lines stretch through the memorial, with each Memorial Unit positioned according to the victim’s year of birth. The result is both a memorial and a timeline of their ages.
The youngest victim was 3-year-old Dana Falkenberg, who was aboard American Airlines Flight 77 with her parents and older sister. The oldest victim was 71-year-old John D. Yamnicky, a Navy veteran who was also aboard the plane.
One of the details that makes the Pentagon Memorial especially powerful is the direction of the benches. For the 125 victims who were inside the Pentagon, the victim’s name and the Pentagon building are visible together. For the 59 people aboard Flight 77, the victim’s name is positioned so that visitors can see the direction from which the plane approached the Pentagon.
The memorial covers approximately two acres of land and includes 85 Crape Myrtle trees. A gravel field surrounds the Memorial Units, while an Age Wall borders the western side. The wall changes in height according to the ages represented by the memorial, ranging from three inches at the age of Dana Falkenberg to 71 inches at the age of John D. Yamnicky.
The wall with the list of names of every victim
The benches face in different directions depending on where the person was that day
Pentagon Memorial Plan
When we were visiting family in the Washington, D.C., area, we had the opportunity to take a private tour of the Pentagon thanks to coworkers who were able to help us arrange access to the building. Since our Pentagon tour had a scheduled start time, we planned to arrive early and use the extra time to visit the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial before heading inside. It worked out perfectly because the memorial is right outside the Pentagon, making it an easy stop to add to our day. We wanted to take our time walking through the memorial, seeing the Memorial Units, reading the victims’ names, and learning more about the tragic events that took place here on September 11, 2001. Visiting the memorial before our private Pentagon tour also gave us a better understanding of the history and significance of the building we were about to enter, making the entire experience much more meaningful.
Derek, Stephanie, and Justin at the memorial
Stephanie and Justin looking at one of the memorial benches
Getting There
Location
The Pentagon is located in Arlington County, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The massive five-sided Pentagon building sits along the Virginia side of the river and is surrounded by major roads, including Army Navy Drive, Washington Boulevard, and Columbia Pike. Because of its location just outside the nation’s capital, it is easy to include the Pentagon and Pentagon Memorial in a Washington, D.C., sightseeing itinerary. The Pentagon is also conveniently served by the Pentagon Metro Station and Pentagon Transit Center, making public transportation one of the best ways to reach the area.
Best Time to Go
The Pentagon Memorial can be visited year-round, but because the memorial is outdoors, the best time to go is when Washington, D.C., has comfortable temperatures for walking. Spring and fall are especially nice, with milder weather and pleasant conditions for spending time outside. Summer can be hot and humid, so an early morning or later afternoon visit may be more comfortable. Winter tends to be quieter, but you’ll want to dress warmly. If you’re visiting specifically to see the Pentagon Memorial before a Pentagon tour, be sure to allow enough time to arrive at the Pentagon, go through any required security procedures, and walk over to the memorial before your scheduled tour time.
The benches reminded me of the wings of airplanes or waves in the ocean
The memorial plaque
The Pentagon Memorial
Who Can Go?
The Pentagon Memorial is open to the general public and is free to visit. Unlike the Pentagon building itself, you do not need a Pentagon tour reservation simply to visit the outdoor memorial. The memorial is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The site can be visited by individuals, families, and large student groups. Guided experiences with volunteer docents are also available by request, although tours depend on docent availability and may require advance notice.
If you’re interested in taking a Pentagon tour, keep in mind that a Pentagon tour is a separate experience from visiting the memorial and requires advance arrangements for eligible groups.
What You'll See
The main memorial consists of 184 Memorial Units representing each person who lost their life in the Pentagon attack. Each memorial bench includes the victim’s name and is paired with a pool of flowing water. The benches are made of stainless steel and inlaid with granite.
As you walk through the memorial, look at how the units are arranged along the age lines. Their placement reflects the ages of the victims, creating a visual timeline that spans from the youngest victim to the oldest.
The Age Wall is another important part of the design. As you walk along it, you’ll notice that the wall gradually increases in height. This represents the ages of the victims, from three-year-old Dana Falkenberg through 71-year-old John D. Yamnicky.
The direction of each Memorial Unit also tells an important part of the story. The Flight 77 memorial units face toward the direction of the plane’s approach, while the Pentagon victim units are positioned so the victim’s name and the Pentagon are visible together.
You’ll also see 85 Crape Myrtles surrounding the memorial units. The trees were incorporated into the landscape to eventually provide shade while maintaining the peaceful atmosphere of the memorial.
Take time to look for the names of individual victims. Reading a victim’s name and seeing the memorial unit dedicated to that person can make the events of September 11 feel much more personal than simply reading about the attack in a history book.
This stone was part of the crumbled Pentagon
One side of the sign at the memorial
What to Bring & Wear
Because the Pentagon Memorial is an outdoor site, comfortable walking shoes are one of the most important things to bring. You’ll likely be walking between the memorial and nearby transportation stops or attractions, so shoes that can handle several miles of sightseeing are a good idea.
Dress for the weather, especially during Washington, D.C.’s hot and humid summers. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat on warm days. A light jacket or layers can be helpful during spring and fall.
A camera can be useful for documenting your visit, but remember that photography rules are different around the Pentagon Reservation. Photography is permitted inside the Pentagon Memorial, while photography is prohibited elsewhere on the Pentagon Reservation.
Most importantly, bring a respectful attitude. This is an active memorial where people come to remember family members, friends, coworkers, and loved ones.
Where to Go
The Pentagon Memorial is located on the west side of the Pentagon grounds near Washington Boulevard and the Arlington County Bike Path. The official address is 1 Rotary Road, Arlington, Virginia.
The best way to reach the Pentagon Memorial is by public transportation, particularly if you’re already sightseeing in Washington, D.C. The memorial recommends using Metro because parking around the Pentagon is limited.
Take the Blue Line or Yellow Line to the Pentagon Metro Station. From the station and Pentagon Transit Center, you can walk to the memorial.
Another option is the Pentagon City Metro Station, which is one stop from the Pentagon. From there, you’ll need to walk to the memorial.
If your Washington, D.C., itinerary also includes Arlington National Cemetery and the September 11 group burial marker, the Arlington Cemetery Metro Station can be another useful option. This can make it possible to visit several significant sites in the area during the same outing.
If you’re driving, parking is limited. The memorial has five accessible parking spaces in Lane 1 of the Pentagon South Parking lot for visitors with valid disability parking permits.
Explanation about the significance of the memorial
One more dedication for the memorial
How Long Does it Take?
Plan on spending about 30 minutes to an hour at the Pentagon Memorial, depending on how much time you want to spend reading the names and learning about the individual victims.
If you simply want to walk through the memorial, you can see the main features fairly quickly. However, this isn’t a place I would recommend rushing through. Take time to walk along the age lines, read some of the names, look at the direction of the Memorial Units, and sit on a bench if you’d like a few quiet moments to reflect.
The official Pentagon Memorial also offers a 24-minute audio tour that explains the events of September 11 at the Pentagon, the history of the Pentagon, and the meaning behind the memorial’s design.
If you are visiting with a large student group or want a more educational experience, allow additional time for a guided tour if you arrange one in advance.
Cost
The Pentagon Memorial is free to visit. It is open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The memorial itself cost $22 million to construct, with the Pentagon Memorial Fund continuing to support preservation and educational outreach.
The wall of names that displays every victim who died when the plane hit the Pentagon
There are stones in the ground with the date and time of the attack on the Pentagon
Tips for The Pentagon Memorial
- Use Metro whenever possible. The Blue and Yellow lines serve the Pentagon Metro Station, and parking around the Pentagon is limited.
- Give yourself time to reflect. This is a memorial to real people and family members, not simply another Washington, D.C., attraction.
- Look at the age lines. They help you understand the timeline of the victims' ages, from 3-year-old Dana Falkenberg to 71-year-old John D. Yamnicky.
- Notice the direction of the benches. The placement distinguishes the victims who were inside the Pentagon from those aboard Flight 77.
- Read the victim's name. If you have time, search for individual stories through the memorial's online "Meet the Heroes" resources.
- Sit on the memorial benches. Sitting on the benches is permitted and is encouraged as a respectful way to reflect.
- Remember that this is an outdoor memorial. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the Washington, D.C., weather.
- Know the photography rules. Photography is permitted inside the memorial, but not elsewhere on the Pentagon Reservation.
- Use the public restrooms if needed. Restrooms near the Memorial Gateway are open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Don't confuse the memorial with a Pentagon tour. Visiting the outdoor memorial does not mean you have a reservation for a Pentagon building tour.
- Consider combining nearby sites. Arlington National Cemetery, the Air Force Memorial, and other Washington-area attractions can be incorporated into the same day.
- Consider a guided experience. Volunteer docent tours can be requested in advance and are subject to availability.
- Visit more than one September 11 memorial if your itinerary allows. Seeing the Pentagon Memorial alongside the September 11 group burial marker at Arlington National Cemetery can provide additional context about the people remembered here.
- Take a quiet moment. Whether you spend 20 minutes or an hour, don't feel like you need to rush. The purpose of this memorial is to remember the people behind the tragic events of September 11.