A free museum, Cable Car Museum gives visitors a peek inside the history of cable cars. Several cable cars are on display, as well as a few exhibits. Be sure to check out the viewing platforms in the power station. After viewing the power station from above, descend into the cavern at the junction of Washington and Mason streets, where the cables are routed. The power station is the working hub of the cable cars and still maintains the daily runs. PutCable Car Museum into our San Francisco journey planner and find out what's close by, where to stay, and where to head next.
Create an itinerary including Cable Car Museum
© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors
Tours to Cable Car Museum
Cable Car Museum reviews
-
This is a working museum in an original and still used cable car barn. Very good displays and you can watch the cables in action. It is centrally located in Chinatown and free - I take all my... more »
-
Stumbled on this gem and glad we did! Great history lesson and an amazing engineering feat back in its day. Great its still operational. more »
-
Very interesting! See the motors that pull the cable cars. Many diagrams describe how the system works. See models and full size cars. See the machine shop where repairs are made. Great way to spend an hour, then catch a cable car to the wharf or back to Market St.
-
The cable cars stop outside and it only takes 30-40 minutes to look around. The main feature is the spinning wheels continually pulling the cables around the city. There is a very clear explanation of how the cars are controlled- I really appreciated the work the guys running the cars do after the visit. Also an interesting information section about the earthquake and fight to stop the cars being abandoned. There is a nice gift shop. The visit made me appreciate what an impressive system the cars are.
Plan your trip to San Francisco
Get a personalized trip
A complete day by day itinerary
based on your preferencesCustomize it
Refine your trip. We'll find the
best routes and schedulesBook it
Choose from the best hotels
and activities. Up to 50% offManage it
Everything in one place.
Everyone on the same page.
Popular things to do in San Francisco
Hidden gems in San Francisco
Side trips from San Francisco
Parks in San Francisco
Kid-friendly things to do in San Francisco
Trips to Cable Car Museum by other users
60 days in United States
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Chicago
New York City
Washington DC
22 days in Continental USA
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Washington DC
New York City
New Orleans
8 days in West Coast
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Yosemite National Park
San Francisco
18 days in California, Las Vegas & Grand Canyon National Park
BY A USER FROM MEXICO
San Francisco
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Los Angeles
28 days in Los Angeles, San Diego & San Francisco
BY A USER FROM ITALY
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco
15 days in West Coast
BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM
Seattle
San Francisco
Yosemite National Park