We were shocked at how much we liked the Museum of Illusions. Our group of 5 easily lost track of time in there. Theres no time limit, and you get to backtrack. The many, many illusions are reasonably spaced out, so theres no real wait time either. There were marked spots on the floor and sample pics on the wall to help get your best shots. There are also staff walking around to help choreograph your picture and help snap your group shot.

This is a great place to visit. Convenient via cable car or just walk through picturesque streets. This is a working museum so you can watch and hear the machinery and read the illustrations of the principals and the history of the system. There is no entry fee but there is a gift shop if you want to buy a souvenir. Recommended.

Very interesting museum. You can watch underground how all that machinery works to run the famous San Francisco Cable Car! You can experience a little bit of the San Francisco history.The entrance is free, toilets available. Shop with souvenirs. You can take photos inside.

Walking to the Cable Car Museum is one of the best decisions of my life. This place is full of history of San Francisco transport system. You get to visit the past and that to for free. There are many restaurants outside the museum. Come to this place in the afternoon and it is very inspiring to see the pictures here.

Learned a lot about cable car.Read each and every information posted there.So,we will get clear idea.Gift shop is there.

Great visual of the inner workings of how the cable cars in SF work. Great to see the early century gear still operating the cars as well.

Very interesting! See the motors that pull the cable cars. Many diagrams describe how the system works. See models and full size cars. See the machine shop where repairs are made. Great way to spend an hour, then catch a cable car to the wharf or back to Market St.

Must see to understand how the cable car is working. Also some nice old movies. It was really interesting. This shows me to use the cable car quite often to keep it going. Besides, the museum is free to visit.

Cool museum! I learned all about cable cars and how they work. There is a loud hum in the building due to the large engines at work tugging the cables through the streets of San Francisco. There is a gift shop selling all kinds of cable car merchandise too.

This museum is free for everyone, but they do have a donation booth to anyone who wants to give a little. San Francisco cable car is a fixture of the city. They carry people to work and home. While tourist line up at Powell streets for a short ride and a photo opportunity. This museum gives you the history and the behind the scene working mechanics of it all. I never realized what actually makes it go. So this was pretty amazing to watch it all work together. They also have the old models on display.

I am going to give 3 stars because according with their website it is open. But when you go it is closed obviously because of.the pandemic but they should inform in google maps and in their web site

The Cable Car Museum is cool. Free to get it is worth stopping in and seeing how the cable cars operate. You can see the big pulleys that move the cable that the cable cars attach to under the street. It’s a small place so you probably won’t spend more then an hour here.

Located in the heart of the cable system that moves San Franciscos Cable Cars, this Museum is accessible free. It shows old vehicles, historic objects and very well designed educational signs. But the most impressive is that we see all the machinery in action.

If you love engineer and are interested in history, you’ll love this museum. Here you can learn a lot about cable cars, the place is very informative (many plates that share history), it has 2 floors and even a souvenir shop inside it.

This is a great museum. Really cool place to checkout. See the history of the cable car and how they work mechanically.

I must say there is more to running these cable cars than I originally thought. It gives you a greater appreciation for how they run. Such simple inventions yet so effective. Its also interesting to read about the evolution of transit over the years and how it survived the fires! Definitely worth a visit.

This is a FREE 2 story museum. It shows how the cable cars operate-even today! It is a great engineering example to show kids. The gift store is also full of quality products to take home as a gift.

This museum is very rich with San Francisco history. Go check it out, youll learn a lot. Its also very interesting for kids too because of the cable cars that are there. I saw some kids with parents and they looked like they were having fun, especially because there is a car in the museum that is available for photographs. Kids enjoyed that the most. There is also an opportunity to sit down and watch a video, I didnt get to do that because I arrived a little before they were about to close and there was someone watching already. And its FREE. You have nothing to lose.

Neat museum that is FREE! It is a “working” museum so you get to see the actual cables running all the San Fran cable cars. Don’t expect fancy interactive exhibits. You get cool info about the history and working of the cable cars and there is a little gift shop for local gifts.

I must say there is more to running these cable cars than I originally thought. It gives you a greater appreciation for how they run. Such simple inventions yet so effective. Its also interesting to read about the evolution of transit over the years and how it survived the fires! Definitely worth a visit.

Cute little museum with lots of info! Worth a visit whether you’re riding the cable car or not... it gives you a whole new appreciation for the system, whose inner workings you can see here!

It was an interesting free experience that showed you the history and inner workings of the cable car system. Really cool. I recommended it to people who want to get a bigger understanding and experience with the normally touristy cable cars.

Fun place to visit if you are interested in knowing the history of cable cars in San Francisco.It’s also a working station to see how the cables work to pull (move) the current cable cars up and down the streets of San Francisco for all three cable car lines.Free to visit and walk around and see the glass display cases filled with cable car artifacts.

A great museum where you can learn all about the creation and history of San Francisco’s Cable Cars and see the technology that keeps the system running today. Whilst the museum is small, it is well worth a visit for an hour to see the history and old cable cars. The gift shop has some great gifts and the museum is completely free to visit.

If you like history this is it. Quite comprehensive from how the San Francisco fire & the earthquake affected the citys cable cars. The types of cable cars used from its early beginnings to present day.Kids will like the old fashion movie machines or the machine that presses out souvenirs prints with pennies.

The cable cars stop outside and it only takes 30-40 minutes to look around. The main feature is the spinning wheels continually pulling the cables around the city. There is a very clear explanation of how the cars are controlled- I really appreciated the work the guys running the cars do after the visit. Also an interesting information section about the earthquake and fight to stop the cars being abandoned. There is a nice gift shop. The visit made me appreciate what an impressive system the cars are.

This is a great museum. We like history and technology and this had both. You could see the running motors and sheaves that run the cable. And there were exhibits to show how the cable gripper has changed over time. We spent about 90 minutes reading and checking everything out, and it is well worth it and free.

Such a cool (and free) activity to do that you couldn’t see anywhere else! Definitely worth a quick stop to learn the history of the Cable Cars and experience how they work.

The cable car museum is one of the most reachable and fun historical experiences in San Francisco. Easily walkable but why walk when you can experience history and ride on the only functioning cable car system in the world. Its a great mix of education and demonstration to go with your cable car riding experience. This is a bucket list item for everyone visiting or living in San Francisco.

Interesting, free museum, especially if you were wondering when riding the cable car how all this work (especially when cable cars are crossing each other). This place will explain everything you need to know about the cable cars in SF. Highly recommended, not just for engineers.And outside of the museum (Jackson and Mason St) is plenty of photo opportunities.

The museum gives live display of operation of cable car system. I visited the museum for satisfying my queries about cable car operations and I got the details I was looking for. The details and descriptions shown in the museum are very explicit. The souvenir shop is selling nice items at good rates.

Great FREE museum. Nice balance of things to look at and touch vs read. Super informative and made riding the cable car a completely different (better, IMO) experience. The staff was friendly.

We learnt so much about cable cars and how they work at the Cable Car Museum. We got to marvel at the huge machineries that pull the steel cables running under the streets of San Francisco, the ingenuity of the gripping mechanism inside the cars, the rich history and the popularity of an invention from a bygone era. It really makes you enjoy and appreciate the peculiarities of cable cars when you get to ride in one today, especially in a world of automation and advancing technologies. Our visit to the Cable Car Museum was very educational and entry was free!

Loved it! So interesting to see how the cables snake throughout SF. Free admission, great gift shop.

This small working museum that incorporates both the central cable power station and the car barn for the cable cars details the history of the San Francisco Cable Car including details of how the system actually works. You can watch the cables thrum through the giant motors that propel the cable through the system lifting cars up and down the San Francisco hills. There are displays on how it all works and a small souvenir shop which as drinks and snacks too. The upper part of the museum is accessible. The best way here is is either by Cable Car or by foot. The museum is free to enter and explore. #LetsGuide

Must see in SF if you like cable cars. Here you can see the engine of cable cars and understand, how they are managed.

The Cable Car Museum is a hidden gem in San Francisco. Youll learn about the fascinating heritage of the citys famous transportation system.

A must see for anyone interested in how the cable cars operate. Lots of interesting information on the great San Francisco earthquake as well. The best part is its free, so why wouldnt you go?

I am a mechanical geek so I loved it. Some of the exhibits need to be refreshed, but content is really cool. The video (very old) shows how the cable car grabs the cable with animation. Audio could be better - hard to hear with machines running.

Ignore the metallic grinding sounds and see one of the best small museums in the U.S. The Cable Car Museum tells the story of the rise and fall of one of Americas most iconic public transportation systems. And its all free! Definitely hop off and take a peek.

Love the free admission! Great museum full of fantastic San Francisco history. I would highly recommend this museum to everyone for some cable car learning.

Nice spot to see in real life how cable cars still function now after all these years. As well know some history of it and you can get at the souvenir shop a piece of history and take it with you. I highly recommend to come and check it out.

My wife and I loved this small and functional museum. Very cool to see the currently in use machine shop that repairs and runs the cables. I’d recommend to anyone who likes trains and anyone who enjoys a small and free experience.

This is a very tiny museum detailing the history of the San Francisco cable cars. Downstairs is the sheave room where you can see where the cables come through for all 4 cable lines. All of the cable cars return to the museum site at the end of the day. This is a good place to take kids for them to learn about cable cars, how the mechanisms work, and history. There is quite a bit of noise from the machinery constantly running. The museum is free. They function purely on donations.

A must! The cable cars of San Francisco are amazing, and knowing the story behind them completes the experience.

This place is more suited for teens or adults. Interesting to learn about how they work, and know the history behind it. Free to visit.

Not a regular sight seeing place, but interesting stop if you want to know how the cable cars operate in San Francisco. You can see the motors running and thats it. They have a few old cabins for display and some old cable car parts for display. Also a small souvenir shop. The entire pace is pretty small and you will finish your tour in less than 10 minutes.

Pretty nice place for people to feel the life of those years, and it may give you something deep in mind that we all should treasure what we’ve already owned nowadays! Elegant decorations also attracted my attentions!

Super cool little museum. Its amazing to see how the cable cars work. Also, its free

An absolute treasure trove of historical paraphernalia. The prize, apart from the workings of the current cable system must be one of the original cable cars from the beginning of the system. Spend about an hour at this free museum. The cable cars are serviced and maintained here. Naturally two of the services run out front. Living history

It was so neat to see all of the workings of the power plant and the Vintage craftsmanship from the beginning of the cable car systems

I thought this would be some pictures and a few old cable car chassis. It definitely has that, but it is also the still beating heart of the cable car network.You can see the cables and the machinery that is **right at that moment** enabling tourists to be transported around San Francisco in/on these glorious machines.

This is a working museum so you can watch and hear the machinery and read the illustrations of the principals and the history of the system.

So very interesting and awe inspiring. I recommend you visit this museum before riding the cable car so you understand and appreciate the beauty of the system and the cable cars themselves, along with those workers operating each car.

This is a treasure!!! So amazing and interesting! Go back in time, and see what these Cable Cars are about! I had a wonderful time, and learned so much! If you are in Frisco, and take a ride on the Cable Car, you have to go here. Its right next to China Town too!

This is one of the best free things you can do in San Francisco. It is a small museum that tells the history of the San Francisco cable car industry and how it changed over the years. It does smell like a machine shop so it the smell of oil or grease is a problem this might not be a good place to visit.

This was a great place to see how the camper cars work.

The only big cable car system is in San Francisco and this museum is right on the incredible drive system for all the lines. You look down on the cables all running 9.5 mph and the longest cable is the California line at 2,100 feet. The displays and a film explain how it works and its history. We spent a couple fascinating hours.

Great place of sf history, free entree

Great museum! Came here on a date a while back and almost forgot about this place. The staff gave us a mini tour and shown what the cable cars used to be before modernization. The place had historical vibes to it and also was interesting as to how the current cable car came to be afterwards. It was considered a lasting experience for me and my date.

Very cool place for those that love to understand how things work!

We made a quick stop and where impressed by the big wheels that pull the cables.

Really interesting piece of history. Lots of technical information and real equipment to understand the engineering involved, and it is all free. Make sure you donate something or buy something from the shop to support it.

Its free to visit, doesnt take long, and is a good place to learn more about the citys trademark method of transportation. It will take around half an hour to view the exihibit. Its little bit noisy inside the museum. Also its very interesting to watch the live working of cable car system. No street parking available near the area.The best way to get here is to take the Powell/Mason or the Powell/Hyde lines. Both stop right out front of the museum at the corner of Washington and Mason Streets.

Very well put together and gave an onsite to the History. Next best thing as unfortunately the cables were being replaced during our time in SF.

This place is absolutely amazing. I would highly recommend a visit. Its completely free as well!

Very informative museum detailing the history of the San Francisco cable cars. Definitely worth a visit.

Loved hanging out of the cable car.

The cable car museum is a fun and free place to visit. There is also a small gift shop. The main attraction is seeing the machinery that powers the cable cars. Be sure to also see down stairs when you first enter the building to see additional parts of the cable car system.

The place isnt that big, but could put the information that you want to know about a cable car. When it started to operate and who gets the idea for making it. Also its free to enter. There is a small souvenir shop inside mostly about cable car.

Fascinating to see how the cable cars are pulled through hilly San Francisco! Great explanations and diagrams provided as well. Displays about the braking system were particularly interesting. History of the cable car system and its refurbishment were also covered. Definitely a must see!

Well worth a visit, you can spend half an hour or half the day looking at these interesting and unique exhibits.You definitely cant miss the winding engine that is actually powering the cable cars around San Francisco!!

The cable car operation location that doubles as a museum. You can see the 4 runs of cables (Hyde, California, Mason and Powell) and wheels spinning that pull the every cable car roaming the streets of SF. The upper level has a gift shop, old cable cars on display, and a hallway with pictures documenting the history of cable cars in SF, including the earthquake in 1906 that basically marked the beginning of the end for the cable cars... as rebuilding effort shifted focus towards use of electric trolley.You can easily complete this museum in about 30-45min. Not a big museum by any definition, but certainly rich in history. And a great place to bring kids. There is a cable car stop right in front of the museum. So, makes easy for a full experience.

A really interesting museum with lots of history of transport in San Francisco along with a fantastic viewing gallery over the live systems which power it. Admission is free and there is a gift shop. Well worth a visit!

Was only able to view through the windows. But wow it looks like a wonderful place.Hope next time Im in San Francisco Ill be able to stop in.

A working museum! An antithesis!! Everything in the museum is actually in continuous daily working order in service of daily commuters and thrilled tourists!! So you can see the mechanics of the cable car system and then go and ride some cable cars ! If you’re going to take more than one a one day passport is useful !!

Very famous museum of cable cars with real engines

Free entry, open daily lured us in while riding the fabulous cable car, and we loved every moment of it. You feel like you become one with the big, mesmerizingly turning wheels and machinery. Great visit for all ages.

Such a wonderful informative surprise! Great for visitors of all ages, especially adults who are up to do some reading of the history of the cable cars of San Francisco!

Really cool place to checkout. See the history of the cable car and how they work mechanically. You can see the cables being pulled at this station still to this day.

Fascinating beyond words..

It was cool seeing the mechanisms of how cable cars move. Spent up to 45 mins in here. A nice area for tourists to stop by and learn about cable cars.

Small be good museum. Lots of information in how the cable cars work.

Nice place to visit. Lots of cool info about San Fransiscos cable cars, from the history to how it works! Very fun to learn about.

Small and simple free museum! We have visited it by surprise after having taken the cable car - but we have really enjoyed it! You can see real things working, real employees, definitely good.

Fascinating museum detailing the history and operation of the cable cars of San Francisco. Youll see everything actually operating as well as their machine shop. Super cool way to spend an hour or so, and its free!

A great place to visit and see the cable car power cables

Would definitely recommend going to the museum before or after a cable car ride. You really understand how the cable cars operate and get a true appreciation. Plus its free!! Cute gift shop and donations are welcome.

Great, free museum all about the origins and history of San Francisco cable cars. And it is still operational! So interesting!

Seeing these machines operate in the building and powering the carts around the city is cool.

Great place to see cablecar history in SF and it’s free

Wondrerful place where you can find out easily how the cable cars in SF work. I liked it a lot, admission is free

The Cable car museum has been an unexpected gem. I thought it would be super touristic but it wasnt. It tells the story of cable cars in SFO, from their origin to today. You can also see how the current system of cables works and support the museum buying some souvenirs. The museum entrance is for free.

I quite liked the visit. (Its free)Interesting to know that that little building is powering all the cables cars! Running them on historical big wheels. Quite impressive.Small gift shop here also.Full disabled access.

If you enjoyed riding the cable cars and want to see how they work then this is a must. Its free and you only need fifteen minutes to walk around, read about them and watch the cables. A great addition to your learning about San Fran history.

I enjoyed the way it shows how cable cars is working, a very interesting idea to run the cars way from any kind of engines and only based on a moving cables under neath the street.A good merchandising store for all stuff with the cable cars recognized landmark, it’s one of the top sightseeing in San Francisco and it’s free to enter.

If your enjoy history and engineering, you will live this museum. I always wondered how the cable was powered and was engaged by the car.

A fabulous free to enter insight into the workings of the Victoria cable cars. Not just a museum but a working power house for all the lines

Very interesting museumPretty small, but you can see how everything works inside of cable cars, how everything is movingNonprofit museum, with free admissionAlthough you can buy some souvenirs, postcards, small cable cars .

Definately worth putting on your itinerary whilst on SF. An amazing piece of engineering for its time.