Cable Car Day – January 17, 2025

History of Cable Car Day

In early 1871, inventor Andrew Smith Hallidie received the first patent for the cable car. That occasion is now observed as Cable Car Day. Hallidie was struck by the idea to construct a cable-propelled transit after witnessing horses falling, and even dying, as they tried to pull cars up San Francisco’s steep Jackson Street. Hallidie was agitated by the deaths of these horses and decided to convert his sympathy into action. Before cable cars, Hallidie had previously invented a type of aerial tramway and designed improvements to mining ropes which drastically improved their economic life. Hallidie was obviously a talented inventor who always had others’ best interests in mind.

Two years after receiving his cable car patent, Hallidie was already on his way to setting up the world’s first cable car railroad on Clay Street. After that, things moved pretty quickly. By 1890, most large cities in America had at least one line. By then the electric streetcar had also been invented. These cars operated by connecting to overhead electrical wires instead of underground moving cables. Cities quickly started switching to these newer cars. These were also easier to install and operate.

Today, San Francisco is the last American city to still run any true cable cars. Unfortunately, none of the original lines survive. Only the grip car eight can be seen at Mason Street’s Cable Car Museum, which is located on two of San Francisco’s three cable car routes. You can also find cable car railways in Venice, Tampa, Las Vegas, and Milan.