San Francisco

cable car

The San Francisco cable car is the world’s last manually operated cable car system and a National Historic Landmark. Unlike streetcars that run on their own power, cable cars have no engine. Instead, they move by gripping a constantly running underground steel cable through a mechanism called the “grip.” This ingenious design was developed in the 1870s to conquer San Francisco’s steep hills, and it remains one of the city’s most beloved symbols.

Today, the cable car is both a working part of the city’s public transit network and a major tourist attraction. Three lines remain in operation, carrying millions of riders each year past famous sights.