The city of San Francisco is rolling back time to honour a significant part of its history, with a grand celebration marking the 150th anniversary of its unique and enduring symbol – the cable cars. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and its nonprofit preservation ally, Market Street Railway, have teamed up with a consortium of organizations to stage memorable events throughout the Summer and Fall of 2023, bringing a renewed spotlight to these moving National Historic Landmarks.

These exclusive festivities, outlined on sfcablecars.org, include unprecedented public tours of the Muni workshop, where these iconic cable cars are assembled and restored, based in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighbourhood. The scheduled activities also feature historically-themed walk/ride tours across the neighbourhoods serviced by the cable car lines, a showcase of “ghost” cable cars from vanished routes, and an impressive reenactment of the first-ever cable car journey made by the system’s inventor, Andrew Hallidie.

San Francisco’s Mayor, London Breed, emphasized the value of cable cars as part of the city’s identity, stating, “You cannot imagine San Francisco without our iconic cable cars. In celebration of the 150th anniversary, we invite everyone to ride our wonderful cable cars to experience the magic of San Francisco.”

San Francisco Cable Car

In a bid to make this milestone more accessible to both residents and tourists, a special $5 all-day pass has been introduced, valid from July 1 to the end of 2023, allowing unlimited access to the California cable car line. Additional passes, such as the all-day all-Muni Visitor Passport for $13, are also available on the Muni Mobile smartphone app, granting unlimited access to all cable cars, F-line historic streetcars, Muni trains, and buses for extensive city exploration.

The San Francisco Travel Association has developed guides to attractions along the cable car routes available on their website for the Powell-Mason Line, Powell-Hyde Line, and California Street Line.

The half-year-long celebration was launched with a historical flourish on June 13 at California, Drumm and Market Streets. A star-studded delegation of civic, business and neighbourhood leaders, including Mayor Breed and SFMTA Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin, embarked on a nostalgic ride on the oldest surviving cable car, ‘Big 19’, through the Financial District, Chinatown, and over Nob Hill.

Among the unique vehicles to feature in the commemorative events is ‘Big 19′, a cable car with a rich history dating back to the 1880s, restored by Muni crafts workers. Additionally, the SFMTA plans to operate the cable car ’42’ on its original Hyde Street route, offering the public a unique opportunity to journey into the city’s past.

On August 2, the actual 150th-anniversary date, notable characters from San Francisco’s past, including Andrew Hallidie and Emperor Norton, will be brought back to life by historical reenactors at Hallidie Plaza. The celebration will include a by-invitation luncheon, paying homage to individuals who have significantly contributed to the survival and success of cable cars.

In addition to these initiatives, the San Francisco Public Library has curated a collection of books available at its branches for readers interested in delving deeper into cable car history. The Main Library’s San Francisco History Center, in collaboration with the SFMTA Photo Archive, will host a photographic exhibition later in the summer. Also, the San Francisco Railway Museum will launch a special exhibit, “150 Years of Cable Cars,” in mid-July.

The milestone celebration is made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of numerous partner organizations, which include local business groups, historical societies, and the San Francisco Public Library. Together, they seek to honour and bring 150 years of the city’s illustrious cable car legacy to life, inviting residents and visitors alike to join in this journey through time.

Written by: Jason Smith

===================================