San Francisco Port of Embarkation, US Army
Also known as: See Also:Fort Mason
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Why it's listed
Fort Mason's lower port area and headquarters building in San Francisco formed the core of the U.S. Army's Pacific shipping operation. The headquarters began in 1902 as a small brick post hospital and was later enlarged with additions to hold depot and port offices. Between 1909 and 1912 the army built a seawall, piers, wharves and storehouses below the fort, designed by Rankin, Kellogg, and Crane in Spanish Mission Revival style, with buff walls and red tile roofs. The first transport, Sherman, docked in January 1912. Public Works Administration funds paid for pier extensions, sheds, repair shops and other improvements in the 1930s. During World War II the port oversaw operations at other Bay Area installations and sent about 1,745,000 personnel overseas, along with more than 25 million measurement tons of cargo. It served as the primary port for the Central, South and Southwest Pacific. Today the buildings are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and house community activities.
Significance in brief: The San Francisco Port of Embarkation was the army's main shipping hub for the Pacific in World War II. Early in the war it shipped more military supplies than all other U.S. military ports combined, and over the whole war it was second only to New York. It embarked about 1,745,000 personnel and handled more than 25 million measurement tons of cargo.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85002433, listed February 4, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Ft. Mason, San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | February 4, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002433 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1912-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Rankin, Kellogg, and Crane of Philadelphia (architects, port buildings); San Francisco Bridge Company (seawall, wharves, tracks); James Campbell (contractor, 1902 hospital, later headquarters building) |
| Architectural style | Spanish Mission Revival (port area buildings) |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated February 4, 1985 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The port area retains its historical integrity to a great extent. As part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, its buildings house community activities including theaters, shops, crafts and studios. |
| Acreage | 21 |
| Within district | Fort Mason Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 37.80817, -122.43087 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85002433.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q948933
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.