Take a Trip to the Cable Car Museum

What:

San Francisco's Cable Car Museum

Where:

1201 Mason Street in the historic Washington/Mason cable car barn and powerhouse.

When:

Year-round except New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Hours are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. April 1 through March 31, and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. October 1 through March 31. Best of all, admission is free.

History:

A DEBUT
San Francisco's cable cars date back to 1873, when Andrew Smith Hallidie saw his vision of a cable-driven vehicle realized. His motivation was a heartfelt one, as he wanted to find a way to spare horses from having to struggle up the city's steep hills. In collaboration with the Clay Street Hill Railroad and inspired by an idea of his inventor father, Hallidie oversaw a test run of the first-ever cable car in August 1873. One month later, the first cable-car system went public. A success.

A CHALLENGE
But as beloved as they are today, it wasn't always roses for the cable cars. In 1947, they met with their toughest challenge when faced with the threat of being discontinued in favor of less-expensive buses. But the city's denizens wouldn't hear of it. Led by Friedel Klussmann, founder of the Citizens' Committee to Save the Cable Cars, the people of San Francisco worked to get Measure 10 placed on the November ballot of that year.

A VICTORY
In a landslide victory, San Francisco got an amendment passed that protected the Powell Street cable car system from such an unfortunate fate. In 1997, the Powell-Hyde line turnaround was named the "Friedel Klussmann Memorial Turnaround" in honor of the woman who personally made sure that these historic cars would remain part of the city.

An Innovative Landmark:

Today, the cable cars continue to serve as a treat for anyone who sees them or rides on them. Tourists and locals alike use them for transportation, but also take them as an experience. Such history cannot be ignored. Plus, it's a fun trip.

To learn more about cable cars and their heritage, mechanical innerworkings, rebuilding effort, and more, visit the Cable Car Museum at 1201 Mason Street. Operated by the Friends of the Cable Car Museum, this nonprofit, educational museum is free to visit, and it truly makes an effort to keep the cable cars of San Francisco relevant and alive.At the museum, you'll find an aerial shot of the engines and winding wheels that pull the cars' cables - a sight that really offers an insider's understanding of the innovation it took to get the cable cars to work in the first place. Also, see antique cable cars and various displays focused on the mechanism behind the such ingenuity.

There's also a museum store offering memorabilia for your shelf or desk.

^{* Photo © Shu-Hwei Alpeche.*}