San Francisco Cable Car Museum San Francisco Cable Car Museum is also the main departure point for the three remaining cable cars in downtown San Francisco. Here visitors can visit the world's first cable car in 1873 (invented by Hide in 1873) and the principles of the operation of the cable car. You can also buy a model of the cable car at the gift shop. Taking a cable car (also known as a tuk-tuk) in downtown San Francisco is also a unique travel experience, and visitors to San Francisco will probably come to experience it.