Cable Cars

The San Francisco cable car system holds the title of the world’s last manually operated cable car system, a living piece of history on the city’s steep streets. Once sprawling with 23 lines established between 1873 and 1890, today only three remain: two connecting downtown near Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf, and one following California Street. Though a few locals still rely on them for their daily commute, the bulk of the 7 million annual passengers are tourists—myself included—enjoying the nostalgia and charm of this iconic experience.