In 1873, San Francisco tested underground cable cars for hills too steep for horse-drawn streetcars; the city’s cable cars still climb those streets today

San Francisco's cable cars represent a rich part of the city's heritage, facing elimination on two notable occasions. Inventor Andrew Smith Hallidie brought them to life, inspired by a tragic streetcar incident involving horses. In 1947, homemaker Friedel Klussmann spearheaded a movement to save these iconic vehicles, preserving public interest. Unfortunately, cuts in the 1950s left only three lines operational, emphasizing the importance of community action in safeguarding history.