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San Francisco Cable Car Museum

TransportLocal HistoryHistoryClosed · Opens 10amFreeWashington St & Mason St (Powell–Mason and Powell–Hyde cable cars)

The Cable Car Museum sits in the Washington/Mason car barn and powerhouse on Nob Hill, which still drives the city's cable car system. A viewing deck overlooks the huge engines and winding wheels that pull the cables, and downstairs you can see the sheaves where the cable enters from under the street. The collection also includes three 1870s cable cars, among them Clay Street Hill Railroad car No. 8, the only surviving car from the world's first cable car line, plus grips, brakes, models and historic photographs.

What's On

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

1201 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Nearest station: Washington St & Mason St (Powell–Mason and Powell–Hyde cable cars), Chinatown–Rose Pak (Muni Metro T Third)

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Hours

MonClosed
Tue10:00–16:00
Wed10:00–16:00
Thu10:00–16:00
FriToday10:00–17:00
Sat10:00–17:00
Sun10:00–17:00

Admission

Free

Admission is free.

Accessibility

Ramp for disabled visitors is on the Washington Street side of the building; museum staff can offer further assistance.

Nearby

Chinese Historical Society of America Museum

Local History3 min walk

Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)

Art15 min walk

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)

Art16 min walk

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

Design16 min walk

Visitor Information

Is San Francisco Cable Car Museum free to visit?
Yes, general admission to San Francisco Cable Car Museum is free. Admission is free.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of San Francisco Cable Car Museum?
San Francisco Cable Car Museum is open Tuesday–Thursday 10:00–16:00, Friday–Sunday 10:00–17:00; closed Mondays. Also closed on Thanksgiving (26 November 2026), Christmas Day and New Year's Day.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is San Francisco Cable Car Museum?
San Francisco Cable Car Museum is located at 1201 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108, in the Nob Hill area of San Francisco. The nearest stations are Washington St & Mason St (Powell–Mason and Powell–Hyde cable cars), Chinatown–Rose Pak (Muni Metro T Third).
What can I see at San Francisco Cable Car Museum?
Free museum inside the working 1887 powerhouse where giant wheels still pull every San Francisco cable car. Current highlights include The Powerhouse: Winding Machinery and Sheave Room, Clay Street Hill Railroad Car No. 8, Sutter Street Railway Cable Train (Cars 46 and 54).
Do I need to book San Francisco Cable Car Museum in advance?
San Francisco Cable Car Museum is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Admission is free.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit San Francisco Cable Car Museum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.
Is San Francisco Cable Car Museum accessible?
Ramp for disabled visitors is on the Washington Street side of the building; museum staff can offer further assistance.

Jaredzimmerman (WMF) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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