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San Francisco Cable Car Museum: My Tips to Visit
by Jill Loeffler •
Visiting the San Francisco Cable Car Museum is an amazing experience for those fascinated by our traditionally operated cable cars.
My favorite part of this free museum is watching the large cables spin as they pull the cars up our steep streets.
I also love all the historic photos, stories about how the cars were built, and the effort locals put into keeping them in service all these years.
Leave a little time to check out the movie, too. Sometimes, it's a little hard to hear the film over the roar of the wheels, but it offers great information about the early days of cable cars in San Francisco.
You will find the San Francisco Cable Car Museum in the Nob Hill district near North Beach and Chinatown.
It's just steps from a Powell & Hyde and Powell & Mason cable car stop.
This fascinating museum in SF doubles as a barn for the cars at night, too.
FAST FACT: Which lines carried the first SF passengers? The line on California Street opened in 1873. It took passengers up the steep hills to the Nob Hill neighborhood. At the time, these hills took a toll on the horses and carriages that tried to use them.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Visiting Information
The San Francisco Cable Car Museum is free and open from Tuesday to Sunday.
You do not need a ticket to enter. You show up, walk in and enjoy the exhibits.
- Tuesday to Thursday they are open from 10 am to 4 pm. Friday to Sunday they are open from 10 am to 5 pm. They are closed on Mondays.
- Closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
The museum is at 1201 Mason Street. The museum is the star on the map below at the corner of Washington and Mason Streets.
A visit to the San Francisco Cable Car Museum takes from 45 minutes to an hour.
If you get caught up in watching the cable wheels at work (like me!), you stay a bit longer.
What You Will See Inside the San Francisco Cable Car Museum
There are two levels to the San Francisco Cable Car Museum, with most of the exhibits on the top level.
These are details on some of its largest displays.
San Francisco's Eight Original Companies
A history panel about the eight original cable car companies offering service in San Francisco in the early years.Here, you will learn more about all of the original companies. As you can see from the picture above, eight companies were running cars up and down the steep SF hills.
There were up to 23 lines in operation between 1873 and 1890.
The information panels take you through the history of the eight companies, including some details on the parts of San Francisco their cars serviced.
There is a LOT of information in these panels, with several great photos from the time as well.
The Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906
The display where you can learn about the impact to the cable cars after the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906.Another display on the first floor is about the impact on the cable cars from the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906.
When the earthquake hit, many of the original companies were no longer in operation.
However, this major event impacted the cable car lines still in service.
The panels show pictures and talk about the impact of this natural disaster on the system and what the city did to get it back up and running again.
Saving the Cable Cars, 1947 - 1954
This panel goes into the history of trying to keep the cable cars running when a vocal group wanted to close them down.By 1947, only five cable car lines were still in operation. The city of San Francisco owned two of them, and the three others were owned by a private company called Cal Cable.
As public transportation technology improved, citizens now had the option to use faster transit options that could also get up and down our steep hills.
Because of the decline in ridership, the mayor and several activist groups fought to close down the two city owned lines.
The measure went up for a vote and locals overwhelmingly wanted to keep them in service.
Cal Cable could no longer afford to keep their cars on the lines, so the city bought all three of their lines as well.
This section of the San Francisco Cable Car Museum gives you all the details about this fight and how so many people stepped up to save the handful of remaining lines.
Rebuilding the Cable Car System, 1982 - 1984
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the cable car lines needed major repairs.
This section of the museum shows you a variety of pictures that chronicle the effort to repair the tracks and keep them running.
Other Displays on the Main Level
Visitors sometimes interchange the names of these two very different systems, so the cable car museum created this detailed display that outlines all of their differences.In addition to these large displays, you will find quite a bit of other information about cable cars, including:
- A video about the early history of these cars
- A display with old cable car tokens and change barrels so the conductors could give back exact change
- An area that talks about how our cable cars and streetcars are different
- Pieces of the cable cars, so you can see and learn more about how they operate
- A gift shop with great cable car and San Francisco souvenirs, last time I visited, it was cash only, so make sure to bring some cash along with you if you plan to buy anything
Live Cable Wheels in Action
My favorite part of the Cable Car Museum is seeing the live cables in action, which are in an open area that you look down into from the main level of the museum.
Oh yes, the cables you see are the actual cables pulling the cars around the streets of San Francisco.
Though, they are loud, so expect quite a bit of noise during your visit.
There are currently three San Francisco cable car routes. Four sets of cables run them.
The four cables are Hyde, California, Mason, and Powell.
Both the Hyde & Powell and the Mason & Powell cars use the Powell cable. They then transfer to their own cables.
Sheave Room
The second level of the museum is small and is where you can look into the Sheave Room.
This is where you will find more cable in action pulling the live cars throughout San Francisco's streets.
They are behind windows, but you can get a really good look at them through the thick glass.
Cable Car Barn
A car coming out of the cable car barn in San Francisco along Washington Street. You are not allowed to visit the barn, but I'll stand across the street to see if one is coming or going.Even though this isn't part of the official San Francisco Cable Car Museum, you can also peek into the cable car barn from the street.
I love watching them come and go as they make their way out to the city streets.
To get here, head outside and walk up Washington Street. You will see this doorway about halfway up the block.
I like to stand across the street to get a better view of them entering and exiting.
They only enter and exit occasionally, but it's always fun to check and see if you can catch one.
How to Get Here by Cable Car
The best way to get here is to take the Powell & Mason or the Powell & Hyde lines.
Both stop right out front of the museum at the corner of Washington and Mason Streets.
Usually, the cable car drivers will call out when they arrive at this stop.
Both lines run between Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf.
They take a slightly different route, but both stop right in front of the San Francisco Cable Car Museum.
Parking Near the San Francisco Cable Car Museum
Street parking near the San Francisco Cable Car Museum is difficult to find. You might get lucky and find a spot, but most likely, you will need to plan to park in a paid lot.
If you prefer to park on the street, look for a spot on Mason Street between Sacramento and Washington.
There are a few lots within a couple of blocks away in either direction. The streets in this area are steep though, so be prepared to do a little hill walking even if you are only two or three blocks away.
Here are a few parking options near the San Francisco Cable Car Museum.
Portsmouth Square Plaza: This parking lot is about 4 city blocks away from this SF museum in Chinatown. It's a larger lot with plenty of parking, but it is a hike to get to the museum. If you are okay with walking and like to explore, it's a great option. It's on Kearny between Washington and Clay Streets. 733 Kearny Street.
Fairmont Hotel Parking: You will also find parking at the Fairmont Hotel at 950 Mason Street. This lot has plenty of room and is about two city blocks away. It's a steep street, though, so allow for a little more time on your return trip as the walk will be uphill.
Things to Do Near the San Francisco Cable Car Museum
Cable Cars
Do you want to learn even more about these historic cars?
Discover more details on the three working lines, some tips for riding the cable cars, and some great pictures of all three in action.
Learn More: Cable Cars
Nob Hill Attractions
The San Francisco Cable Car Museum is in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood. This neighborhood has strong ties to these popular cars.
Find out more about its relationship with the infamous cable cars and other popular things to see and do here.
Learn More: Nob Hill
Chinatown
Right down the hill from the museum is Chinatown. This is a popular neighborhood for those visiting San Francisco. It's a thriving neighborhood with plenty of shops, restaurants, and other activities.
Find out more about the best things to see and do in San Francisco's Chinatown District.
Learn More: Chinatown
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!