As part of a suite of ongoing public art installations on campus, Fort Mason Center For Arts & Culture has re-installed flagpoles in historic locations on the Gateway Pavilion and the Festival Pavilion. Throughout part of the year, artists are commissioned to make new flags to be flown on these flagpoles. When artist-designed flags are not atop these flagpoles, decommissioned flags that were once in use on Fort Mason’s military campus are installed.

The red, white, and blue Army Transport Service flag (1923-1943) is part of the Quartermaster Corps which operated ships for the transport of units to overseas locations. The flag is marked by the tri-colored stripes and the branch insignia of the Quartermaster Corps including the gold eagle with wings spread perched on a wheel with 13 gold stars. The wagon wheel is symbolic of transportation and the 13 stars symbolize the colonies during the origin of the Corps during the Revolutionary War. The sword and the key indicate military and storekeeping functions, both part of the main duties of the Quartermaster Corps.

The Transportation Corps Vessel Flag (in use through the 1950s) represents the branch colors of brick red and golden yellow depicting a wheel encircling a tire bearing wings. This same insignia was used on the lapels of the Class “A” uniform jacket worn by commissioned officers. The Transport service was in the Quartermaster Corps until 1943 when it spun off into its own branch.