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Cable Car Museum, San Francisco

4.6
#2 of 48 in Museums in San Francisco
Specialty Museum · Hidden Gem · Museum
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.
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Tours to Cable Car Museum

FROM $270 BOOK WITH VIATOR Private Tour: San Francisco Sightseeing - 3 Hour
5.0
Duration: 3 hours
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FROM $269 BOOK WITH VIATOR San Francisco Private Sightseeing Tour
5.0
Duration: 3 hours
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FROM $21 BOOK WITH VIATOR San Francisco Scavenger Hunt Adventure
4.5
Duration: 3 hours
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Cable Car Museum reviews

Rate this attraction
TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
3,702 reviews
Google
4.6
TripAdvisor
  • By markbL6141BO
    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 »
  • By tobo347
    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 »
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Google
  • By Robert Bylls
    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.
  • By Beck Marquis
    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.
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