San Francisco Cable Car History

The History of San Francisco's Cable Cars

Last updated: September 24, 2026.

Quick answers

• Invented by: Andrew Smith Hallidie, in San Francisco, in 1873
• First run: August 2, 1873, on Clay Street; public service began September 1, 1873
• Saved by: Friedel Klussmann and the Citizens' Committee to Save the Cable Cars (Proposition 10, 1947), and again by Mayor Dianne Feinstein, who led a $60 million rebuild from 1982 to 1984
• Today: 3 lines and 40 cars (28 Powell cars, 12 California cars), a National Historic Landmark since 1964

In this history: The Invention · The Cable Car Boom · Saving the Cable Cars · Cable Cars Today · Cable Car Museum · FAQ

San Francisco's cable cars have survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, two World Wars, political attempts to scrap them in the late 1940s and 1950s, and a near-collapse in the early 1980s. Today they are the world's last manually operated cable car system and a worldwide symbol of San Francisco.

Who Invented the Cable Car?

Andrew Smith Hallidie invented the San Francisco cable car in 1873. Hallidie's father, a British inventor, held a patent for "wire rope" cable. After arriving in California in 1852 during the Gold Rush, Hallidie used wire rope to haul ore from mines and to build suspension bridges, experience that led directly to the cable car.

He conceived the idea for a steam-powered, cable-driven railway in 1869 after watching horses being whipped as they struggled to pull a horsecar up the wet cobblestones of Jackson Street. The car slipped and rolled backward down the hill, dragging the horses with it.

Hallidie formed the Clay Street Hill Railroad, which began building a cable line on Clay Street in May 1873. The city franchise required the line to be running by August 1. The first test run came in the early morning hours of August 2, a day late, but it was a success. Public service began on September 1, 1873.

How Did Cable Cars Spread Across San Francisco?

For four years the Clay Street Hill Railroad was San Francisco's only cable car company. Then competitors adopted Hallidie's patented system:

• Sutter Street Railroad (1877)
• California Street Cable Railroad (1878)
• Geary Street, Park & Ocean Railroad (1880)
• Presidio & Ferries Railroad (1882)
• Market Street Cable Railway (1883)
• Ferries & Cliff House Railway (1888)
• Omnibus Railroad & Cable Company (1889)

By the end of the 19th century, 53 miles of cable car track were woven throughout the city.

Who Saved the San Francisco Cable Cars?

Friedel Klussmann saved the cable cars. In 1947, Mayor Roger Lapham declared that "the city should get rid of all cable car lines as soon as possible," because buses were cheaper to operate. Klussmann responded by founding the Citizens' Committee to Save the Cable Cars.

The committee placed a charter amendment, Proposition 10, on the November 1947 ballot. Newspapers covered the fight, celebrities around the world rallied behind the cable cars, and business owners pointed out that tourists didn't come to San Francisco to ride buses. Proposition 10 passed in a landslide, with 77% of the vote.

In 1997, the Powell-Hyde line's turnaround at Hyde and Beach Streets was named the Friedel Klussmann Memorial Turnaround in honor of the woman who saved the cable cars.

Dianne Feinstein saved the cable cars a second time. By the late 1970s, the aging system had deteriorated so badly that it needed an emergency shutdown in 1979, and by 1982 the cable cars faced being lost for good. As mayor, Dianne Feinstein led the effort to raise about $60 million in federal and private funds to completely rebuild the system. The cable cars shut down in 1982 for a nearly two-year overhaul, and Feinstein kept the project on a tight schedule so they would be running again before the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. They returned to service in 1984.

To keep visitors coming during the shutdown, Feinstein also launched the San Francisco Trolley Festival, which ran historic streetcars on Market Street and later led to the popular F-line streetcar. As Rick Laubscher, who then chaired the Chamber of Commerce's transportation committee, put it, "We very well may have lost the cable cars forever, had it not been for Dianne."

San Francisco's Cable Cars Today

San Francisco's cable cars were named a National Historic Landmark in 1964. They are one of only two moving National Historic Landmarks; the other is New Orleans' St. Charles streetcar line. Their continued operation and a minimum level of service are protected by the San Francisco City Charter.

Three lines run today: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, and California Street. Two types of cars are in service:

• California Street line: 12 larger, double-ended cars with open seating at each end and an enclosed middle section. They can be driven from either end, so they simply switch direction at the end of the line.
• Powell Street lines (Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason): 28 smaller, single-ended cars that are driven from one end, so they are turned around on turntables at each end of the line.

Planning a ride? See our Cable Car Rider Guide for 2026 fares, tickets, and routes.

Visit the Cable Car Museum

The free Cable Car Museum at 1201 Mason Street (at Washington Street) tells the full story of the cable cars. It is also the system's working powerhouse, where you can watch the huge wheels that pull the cables under the city streets. Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 10 am–4 pm, Friday–Sunday 10 am–5 pm; closed Mondays, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who invented the San Francisco cable car?

Andrew Smith Hallidie invented the San Francisco cable car. His Clay Street Hill Railroad made its first test run on August 2, 1873, and began public service on September 1, 1873.

Why were cable cars invented?

Hallidie designed the cable car after watching horses struggle and fall while pulling a horsecar up a steep, wet San Francisco street in 1869. Cable cars could climb the city's steep hills safely without horses.

Who saved the San Francisco cable cars?

Friedel Klussmann saved them in 1947 by leading the campaign for Proposition 10, which passed with 77% of the vote. Mayor Dianne Feinstein saved them again by leading a $60 million rebuild from 1982 to 1984.

What did Dianne Feinstein do for the cable cars?

As mayor, Dianne Feinstein led a campaign that raised about $60 million in federal and private funds to rebuild the failing cable car system. The cable cars closed in 1982 for the overhaul and returned in 1984.

How many cable car lines are there in San Francisco today?

There are three cable car lines: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, and California Street. They are served by 28 Powell cars and 12 California cars.

Are San Francisco's cable cars a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. The cable cars were named a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and are one of only two moving National Historic Landmarks, along with New Orleans' St. Charles streetcar line.

Where is the Cable Car Museum?

The Cable Car Museum is at 1201 Mason Street, at Washington Street, in San Francisco. Admission is free, and it is closed on Mondays.

Bring Home a Piece of Cable Car History

Visit The Cable Car Store at PIER 39 or shop online for cable car models of all shapes and sizes, keychains, and magnets.