From SFWiki

Cable Cars are one of San Francisco's most well know icons and one of only two mobile national historic landmarks. The other is New Orlean's St. Charles line.

History

Cable cars were invented here in San Francisco by Andrew Hallidie after he witnessed an accident in 1869 where a team of horses gave out pulling an overloaded streetcar up one of San Francisco's steep hills. There are no motors or engines on a cable car, instead Hallidie's system uses a steel cable running in a loop below the street. Cable cars move by gripping onto that rope through the slot in the middle of the tracks where the gripping mechanism extends below the ground.

The first cable car line, the Clay Street line, opened in 1873. Of the lines operating today, the California line opened in 1878, though shortened from it's original route. The Powell-Mason line has run the same route since it opened in 1888 and though the Powell-Hyde line is not authentic in the strictest sense of the word, there has been service along Hyde street since 1891.

Riding the Cable Cars

One-way Cable Car fare is $5.00 and doesn't not include a transfer. Cable Cars do not require any additional fare for those with a valid Muni FastPass.

The Powell-Hyde runs between the turntables at Powell & Market and Ghirardelli Square via Chinatown with a stop at the top of Lombard Street for a photo opportunity.

Site Seeing Recommendation

If you are looking for a scenic trip or playing tour guide to visiting friends and family the Powell-Hyde is probably your best bet. It will provides a trip through Chinatown and a photo op at Lombard Street before arriving at Aquatic Park with a view of Alcatraz and beside Ghirardelli Square.

• Board at Powell & Market. It is sometimes easier to board a few stops up at Union Square or Sutter
• Be sure to sit on the right (east) side of the car. The view is generally better and it also puts you facing the crooked stretch of Lombard Street.
• When arriving at Beach Street, Ghirardelli Square will be on the left side.
• From Ghirardelli a walk downhill will place you at the footpath along Aquatic Park where you can take a right turn and walk directly to Fisherman's Wharf a few blocks east.