Army Quartermaster Museum - Fort Lee, Virginia

On Friday, 15 June 2001 the Quartermaster Museum opened its “Past Missions Gallery” featuring exhibits on the former Quartermaster Missions of Transportation, Construction, Remount, and Heraldry. 

Remount (Horses, Mules and Dogs) - Until World War II, Quartermasters were also responsible for providing horses and mules for the Army. The exhibit portrays the role of Quartermaster Pack Mule units and the variety of saddles used by the Army throughout its history. Among the saddles is the Grimsley saddle used by General Grant during the Civil War. Quartermasters also trained and handled war dogs and the exhibit features a video showing the training of dogs during World War II. From 1775 until 1942, 

Transportation - Beginning in 1775, when the Quartermaster Corps was established, the Corps was responsible for transporting the Army but in 1942, this mission was passed to the newly created Transportation Corps. Until that time, Quartermasters arranged for the procurement of transport and for the movement of soldiers and supplies by land and water. The gallery features the Rucker Ambulance used to transport General Grant’s personal belongings during the Civil War, an Army Escort Wagon used by the Army from the 1890’s through the 1930’s, and a World War I truck made by the Indiana Truck Company, an example of early motorized transportation. An informational kiosk features other examples of wagons, trucks, and ocean-going transports operated by the Quartermaster Corps’ Army Transport Service. In July 2001, the Eisenhower van was installed in the Gallery immediately following the Military Vehicle Preservation Association National Convention. The van, outfitted by Army Quartermasters, served as General Eisenhower’s personal living quarters during World War II. 

Construction - Quartermasters were the builders for the Army and the gallery contains an exhibit on barracks and barracks furniture from the Civil War to World War II. 

Heraldry - At one time Quartermasters were the heraldry specialists for the Army. In 1963, during the reorganization of the Department of Defense, this mission was passed to the Adjutant General. The exhibit includes the original 50 Star Flag, produced by the Quartermaster Corps and approved by President Eisenhower, the first Army Flag, and President Theodore Roosevelt’s Presidential Flag, one of several Presidential Flags in the Museum’s collections. The exhibit also includes the Richard T. Bull Insignia Collection, a 6300 piece collection donated to the Museum and now exhibited in its entirety. 

For more information on these subjects visit the Quartermaster Former Missions Page