San
Francisco’s cable cars are symbolic of the charm
and distinct flavor of the city. In no other place can
you ride a moving national historic monument.
Fisherman’s Wharf is served by two cable car lines:
the Powell-Hyde line on Hyde and Beach Streets (Aquatic
Park near Ghirardelli Square), and the Powell-Mason
line on Taylor and Bay Streets (middle of Fisherman's
Wharf area, a few blocks from Pier 45). Both lines run
between Fisherman's Wharf and Powell and Market Streets
in Union Square. You can view a detailed route map of
the Powell-Hyde cable car line here;
the Powell-Mason cable car route map can be viewed here.
SAN FRANCISCO'S CABLE CARS |
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The
inventor of the cable car was Andrew Hallidie,
a Scottish engineer and wire rope manufacturer.
Hallidie's inspiration came after observing a
team of four horses struggling to haul a public
conveyance up a steep San Francisco hill. The
cobblestone street was slick from the fog, and
when one horse slipped, the car rolled |
backwards, dragging all four horses with it. Hallidie
then designed a cable railway system, and at 5:00
a.m. on August 2, 1873, Hallidie guided the first
cable car down Clay Street.
Today, San Francisco has 38 cable cars in its fleet.
For more information on cable car history, you can
visit the Cable
Car Museum, located at 1201 Mason Street at Washington
Street (on the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines).
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