National Historic Landmark

San Francisco Cable Cars

San Francisco, San Francisco County, California
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000233

About this property

The San Francisco cable car system is the world's last manually operated cable car system and an icon of the city of San Francisco. The system forms part of the intermodal urban transport network operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway, which also includes the separate E Embarcadero and F Market & Wharves heritage streetcar lines, and the Muni Metro modern light rail system. Of the 23 cable car lines established between 1873 and 1890, only three remain (one of which combines parts of two earlier lines): two routes from downtown near Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf, and a third route along California Street. While the cable cars are used to a certain extent by commuters, the vast majority of the millions of passengers who use the system every year are tourists, and as a result, the wait to get on can often reach two hours or more. They are among the most significant tourist attractions in the city, along with Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Fisherman's Wharf. San Francisco's cable cars are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of only two street railways to be named a National Historic Landmark, along with the St. Charles Streetcar Line in New Orleans.

Location

1390 Washington St.
San Francisco, San Francisco County, California
37.79653, -122.41278

Categories

TRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Russian Hill-Vallejo Street Crest District
Listed
0.1 mi
Russian Hill-Macondray Lane District
Listed
0.2 mi
Russian Hill-Paris Block Architectural District
Listed
0.2 mi
Feusier Octagon House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Engine House No. 31
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was San Francisco Cable Cars listed on the National Register?

San Francisco Cable Cars was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is San Francisco Cable Cars?

San Francisco Cable Cars is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is San Francisco Cable Cars a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. San Francisco Cable Cars has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for San Francisco Cable Cars?

The period of significance for San Francisco Cable Cars is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near San Francisco Cable Cars?

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