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.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

The San Francisco Cable Car Museum is a great place to learn about the history and inner workings of the iconic cable cars that are a symbol of San Francisco. The museum is free to visit and is located in a historic cable car powerhouse. The museum has a variety of exhibits, including: A history of the cable car system, from its invention in the 1870s to the present day. A working cable car, which you can climb aboard and see how it works. A video that shows the cable car system in action. A gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and cable car-themed merchandise. The museum is also home to the world's oldest cable car, which was built in 1873. The car is still in working condition and is occasionally taken out for special events. The San Francisco Cable Car Museum is a great place to spend an hour or two learning about a piece of San Francisco history. It's also a fun place to take kids, who will enjoy seeing the cable cars up close and learning how they work.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

Free entry!! In what is an expensive city, this is a little gem of a museum. I rode the Hyde/Powell cable car about 15 years ago but had no real understanding of the mechanics behind this amazing invention. Spending 45mins here gave me the lowdown on how it all works and even better you can see the terminating/start points of all 4 still active lines and the cables/engines driving the cables. The mind boggles at how it all works and how something so advanced could have been invented so long ago. Do this in combination with Lombard Street - they are not too far apart from each other, although away from the main tourist spots.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
30–60 min
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

Really cool to see how cable cars worked, their history, and to just take in one of the last remaining relics of a long gone era. As a native San Franciscan who no longer lives in SF, I cherish experiences like these where I get to be a tourist in my home town. It brings me back to my childhood where we went on field trips to museums just like this to learn more about the City that I called home. Unfortunately, I likely won't be back for many years to come, so I did what I normally don't and bought a small cable car souvenir to commemorate the moment.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Staffs were VERY helpful. I was trying to recereate a photo of my father from 40 years ago and the crews helped me extensively to find the correct cars that was the same one my father had in his photos. The guy from the gift store directed me to the warehouse and the maintenance crew helped to bring me around. They even helped me to take the photos. Definitely appreciate their help and hospitality Also got to see how they operate inside the warehouse. I wonderful experience indeed.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

The car barn and powerhouse for the world's last & only in-use cable cars. Note: NOT the same as a trolley! You can literally see the wires of this 150+ year-old system STILL churning all of San Fran's cable cars. Has the WORLD'S OLDEST cable car on site. And for those interested in learning the history, the mechanics, or just interesting periods of SF & world history... highly recommend stopping by. Free admission, too!
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

One of the few free activities in the city totally worth visiting. A complete and rich museum with free toilets and gift shop reasonably priced. Here you will learn about how the cable cars work, their history and you will see the big machinery which moves the cars all around the city. To me it’s a must visit if you are in San Francisco, more than actually riding a cable car.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

This museum is like a "hidden jewel" which is rarely mentioned or recommended. The location is in Mason Street, not too far from the Chinatown. The museum actually shows the real sheaving system underneath the cable lines. It's very fascinating, and it explains the whole magazine behind the locomotion laugh cable cars. Highly recommended and is admission-free.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

One of the San Francisco Staples is very unique and probably one of the rarest things you will see in a big city anymore. The key to the cable cars is to not get on where everyone else does at the bottom but meet halfway in the middle and take it to the end. This is a completely free museum and worth your time.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

October 2023 5* Visited the museum arranged by SFMTA. It was so amazing to visit this place and see how cable car system in SF works. This place is holding such an amazing history and show human creativity. The turbines keep running to move cable cars. There is so much work in the background. Would definitely recommend to take the ride.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

It’s an amazing bit of technology the way these cable cars run. In one of the highest tech places in the planet, it’s great to still see old machines propelling these cars up and down the huge hills of the city. The museum is very informative for all things cable car. Cute gift shop too.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

A fun and informative museum on the history, technology and real-time workings of San Francisco's famous cable cars. If you're curious about the sounds under your feet when crossing SF streets then you'll enjoy. Allow 30 to 60 minutes to explore the exhibits. Entry is free and there's a nice little gift shop on site.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Very good museum! I learned a lot about the engineering aspects of the Cable Car system, because they broke it down in very simple terms. Plus, because Cable Cars are such a quintessential port of the city, learning about the history of the Cable Car really gave you a good history lesson of San Fran as well.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Must see in SF for any gear head. The history and engineering behind the cable cars is fascinating. This is not just a display, it is the actual site where all the cables get routed to and you see it in motion. I liked this better than riding the cable car.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Price for adult entry
Free

If you are looking for a quick educational stop, this is your place. It was really interesting to see the actual cables in action pulling the cable cars throughout San Francisco. Free entrance, cute, affordable gift shop. Parking was very difficult.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

This museum is awesome, a great piece of San Francisco history that's still running several of the cable car lines in the city. Come here to see it in action and learn how it all works. Free admission, but donations are greatly appreciated and be sure to check out the gift shop.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

Great museum! I learned how cable cars work and their history. Very cool to get a view of the “heart” of cable cars. The guy at the souvenir shop also threw in a free pin commemorating 150 year anniversary for free.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Must visit if you’re in the area especially because it’s free!! you get an idea of how the cable cars work. Plenty to read history on how it all started. Parking can be a bit tricky if you drive here.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Price for adult entry
Free

Great place to visit to get some good history of the San Francisco cable car history. A lot of information is on the walls and there is a video too. Spent an hour here and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Free entry and donations are appreciated.

Know there will be a line. Waiting time could pass 20 minutes. No drinks allowed inside. My tip is to wait at the end of the station and turn around.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
30–60 min
Reservation recommended
No