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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.
Cable Car Museum reviews
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This museum is free but so much information on what goes on with the cable cars. It was educational for kids and myself. I would love to go back and study the engineering of the cable car.
This museum is free but so much information on what goes on with the cable cars. It was educational for kids and myself. I would love to go back and study the engineering of the cable car. more »
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This was my first visit to the Cable Car Museum. I don't know how it took me so long to see it. We really enjoyed it. It's interesting to see the actual operations with the wheels and cables. There's.... more
This was my first visit to the Cable Car Museum. I don't know how it took me so long to see it. We really enjoyed it. It's interesting to see the actual operations with the wheels and cables. There's.... more »
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What a treasure the Cable Car Museum is! Whether you're a tourist or a local, this is one of the best free things to do in SF. You can bop in and check it out for 10 minutes or you can spend an hour or more looking at the displays and marveling at the machinery. If you're an engineer or lover of mechanical stuff, this is the place for you. The entire museum is situated around the actual working underground cable car machinery and mechanisms. It's breathtaking to imagine how this massive system of cables and steel was built well over a century ago and is still in daily use. Make sure you go downstairs (it's easy to miss) to see all the machinery at its own level. The museum has many historic artifacts and educational signage about the cable car system, how and why it was built, and how it was saved from extinction in the 1970s by a group of passionate residents who convinced the city that cable cars weren't obsolete, but help define the SF. Take the time to watch the very dated, but still interesting video about how the cable cars were saved. (You get to sit in an antique car while watching!) The museum is run by The Friends of the Cable Car Museum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping the heritage of these rolling landmarks alive. Please consider leaving a donation in the box if you enjoyed your visit so that future generations can enjoy this experience.
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Interesting to learn about the history and operations, plus engineering feats, of cable cars in San Francisco. Since this is the central operating station if all 4 SF cable car lines, it's a working "factory" complete with noise and smell (industrial oils). Quite startling to see that there is a guy seated at the center of all those massive cables. Wonder about occupational safety... Small gift shop and real cable cars for photos.
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