Built in 1912, the Fort Mason Center served a key role in World War II as the Principal Port for the Pacific campaign and ceased operating as an army base in the 1960s. Since the transfer of lower Fort Mason from the Army to the National Park Service and then to the non-profit organization in 1977, there has been an amazing transformation of the Pier 2 Shed from a place serving the war effort and sending men off to fight to a vibrant cultural center serving as a community space for thousands to gather and celebrate the arts. Fort Mason is a nationally recognized model for the transformation of historic military bases into a successful non-profit community arts and cultural center.