Things to do in San Francisco: Cable Car Museum on Nob Hill #UrbanTrekUSATips #SanFrancisco #TuesdayTips

Today's Tuesday Tips features the Cable Car Museum on Nob Hill. This year, 2023, is the 150th anniversary of the San Francisco cable cars. The very first cable car was tested on August 2, 1873. The Clay Street Hill Railroad Company opened to the public on September 1, 1873. For the first two days, free rides were offered and on the third day passengers had to pay 5 cents. The original line was from Kearny to Leavenworth. As of today, the cable car fare is $8.00. (Note: $.05 back in 1873 would be approximately $1 in 2023.)

(Click on video to enlarge)

The Cable Car Museum is located at 1201 Mason Street (@Washington). As of right now, they are open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Cable Car Museum is FREE. 

Note: Make sure not to miss going downstairs as shown in the beginning of the video so you can see what goes on underneath the street. Also, watch the video <shown towards the end of the video above> because if shares a lot of interesting information about the cable cars.

If you are taking the California cable car, disembark at California and Mason and walk heading north on Mason for 3 blocks. If you take the Powell/Hyde or Powell/Mason cable car going towards the Fisherman's Wharf area disembark at Jackson and Mason and walk heading south on Mason for 1 block. If you are taking the Powell/Hyde or Powell/Mason cable car going to Union Square area, they both stop in front of the Cable Car Museum at Mason and Washington.

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Best spot to sit or stand riding the California Cable Car #SanFrancisco #UrbanTrekUSATips

Click on this link to YouTube for a video of the ride segment from Drumm Street to just past Jones Street

The California cable car in San Francisco runs between Drumm Street at the Embarcadero Center to Van Ness. This particular cable car is a double ended cable car, which means it has two grips (i.e. one at both ends of the cable car). Therefore, it does not have to be turned around like the cable cars on Powell (i.e. Powell & Hyde, Powell & Mason). Hence, one can ride the California cable car from the Embarcadero to Van Ness and then back without having to disembark.

Note: Each cable car ride costs $8 -as of Feb. 14, 2024- meaning riding it from Embarcadero to Van Ness is $8 and going back is another $8 <4 years old or under is free>. My tip is cost effective ONLY when one has a Muni monthly fast pass or one of the visitor Passports which includes unlimited rides on cable cars.

Urban Trek USA Tip: Sit or stand on the left side of the California cable car and start at the station at California & Drumm Street. Make sure you are looking back most of the time especially when the cable car starts to go uphill because -as the video shows- the view is behind the cable car when going towards Van Ness. Also, as one gets higher up Nob Hill it would be good to look downhill (left side) when the cable car crosses Powell, Mason, Jones and Taylor Streets for nice views. When the cable reaches the end at Van Ness, just stay where you are because the cable car will go back without you having to disembark. This time you will be in the front and ride side of the cable car. I suggest that you do not get off until Chinatown on Grant Ave because the steepest part of this route is between Powell at the top and Grant at the bottom of Nob Hill. It's fun experiencing this steep part of the ride.

Check out this video from the kick off event held at the California cable car station at the Embarcadero Center (California & Drumm) on June 13, 2023.

(Click on video to enlarge)

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Updated: Feb. 14, 2024

San Francisco Cable Cars Scheduled to Resume Service Aug. 2, 2021 #UrbanTrekUSATips

 The famous cable cars of San Francisco are scheduled to resume service on August 2, 2021 (refer to UPDATE below) and fare will be FREE for the entire month 😀

UPDATE: Click here for more information about the resumption of cable car service from SFMTA blog. (Updated Aug. 1, 2021)

Check out the photos below with good tips on riding the cable cars.

Tips courtesy of Urban Trek USA San Francisco private walking and city tours. 

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