San Francisco Railway Museum, California

Written By Kelsey Cecil

San Francisco, California · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Trolley and streetcar museumFreeOpen Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 5 pm

The San Francisco Railway Museum is Market Street Railway's free storefront museum by the Ferry Building, devoted to the streetcars and cable cars that still carry riders through the city, with the F-line stopping right at its door.

  • Free admission
  • Opened October 7, 2006
  • F-line streetcar stop at the door
  • 1906 earthquake exhibit
  • Replica Market Street Railway car end
  • Gift shop with transit books

San Francisco Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 5 pm; closed Monday
Admission
Free
Train rides
Muni's vintage F-line streetcars stop out front, 7 am to 11 pm daily ($3 adults, $1.50 seniors and disabled riders, under 19 free); cable cars $8 one way for riders over 4
Plan for
About 30 minutes to 1 hour, plus a ride
Best for
Visitors to the waterfront, families and transit fans
Best ages
Ages 3 and up
Parking
No parking information is posted; the F-line stops at the door

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to San Francisco Railway Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to San Francisco.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A museum from the people who kept the streetcars running

The vintage streetcars rolling along Market Street and the waterfront did not get there by accident. Market Street Railway, an independent nonprofit, led the campaign that turned them from a dream into a working transit line, and it has spent four decades working with eight mayors and many city leaders to keep them, and the city's cable cars, in good shape and in regular service. The group takes its name from the old Market Street Railway Company, whose history is in many ways the history of transit in San Francisco.

Market Street Railway does not own or run the streetcars or cable cars. The city's transit agency, SFMTA, known as Muni, does that. Instead the nonprofit advocates for service and route improvements, helps keep the vehicles looking right, and has acquired historic streetcars from around the world for the city and brought cable cars home. It receives no government money and relies on membership dues and donations.

On October 7, 2006, the group opened the San Francisco Railway Museum as a place where visitors could learn the story behind the cars they were about to ride. It sits at the Steuart Street stop of the F Market & Wharves line, half a block south of Market Street and across from the Ferry Building, and admission has always been free. The organization says it was founded by volunteers and still depends on them, from helping in the museum to supporting its advocacy work.

A small gallery with a big streetcar story

The museum is a single storefront space, so it is easy to see in one visit. Its permanent collection gathers artifacts from the Market Street Railway Company and the San Francisco Municipal Railway, with exhibits on the antique streetcars of the F-line and the city's national landmark cable cars, and how rail transit shaped San Francisco's growth. A replicated end of one of the old Market Street Railway 100-class streetcars, a type that no longer survives, gives you a sense of what riders once stepped aboard. A retrospective on the 1906 earthquake shows how the disaster affected the city and its transit.

The gift shop stocks transit-themed gifts and the nonprofit's pocket-sized rider guide, On Track, which describes each historic vehicle and what you will see along each route. When you are done, step outside: the F-line streetcars, drawn from cities around the world, stop right in front, and the California Street cable car line is only steps away.

Don’t miss

  1. The 100-class streetcar replicaA recreated end of a Market Street Railway 100-class car, a design that is now extinct, so this is the closest you can get to one.
  2. 1906 earthquake retrospectiveAn exhibit on the earthquake that reshaped San Francisco and its transit system.
  3. Market Street Railway and Muni artifactsThe permanent collection traces the private and city-run systems that built the streetcar and cable car network.
  4. On Track rider guideThe nonprofit's pocket guide, sold in the gift shop, to every historic vehicle and route, with walks to add along the way.
  5. The F-line stop out frontVintage streetcars from around the world stop at the museum's door, so you can ride right after you visit.

Look, then ride

The museum itself is compact and free, which suits short attention spans: kids can look at the streetcar replica and pictures of the earthquake, then head outside to ride. Children under 19 ride Muni streetcars free, so a trip on a vintage F-line car costs nothing for the kids. Cable cars charge every rider over 4, so plan accordingly.

Because the museum is a quiet indoor space, it also makes a good break from the crowds and weather along the waterfront. Pair it with a walk to the Ferry Building across the street.

Plan your visit: tips for San Francisco Railway Museum

  • Arrive by streetcar: the museum is at the Steuart Street F-line stop.
  • Bring exact change for streetcar fares, or use Muni's app; drivers give no change.
  • Pick up the On Track guide in the gift shop before you ride.
  • Check Market Street Railway's live map to see which vintage streetcars are running.
  • The E-Embarcadero line is suspended until further notice, so plan on the F-line.

Market Street Railway's members and volunteers

Market Street Railway, an independent nonprofit founded by volunteers, runs the museum and receives no government money. Visitors help by shopping in the gift shop, joining as a member, donating, or volunteering. Members and supporters fund the group's work advocating for service on the F-line and cable cars and caring for the historic fleet.

More cable cars and streetcars nearby

The San Francisco Cable Car Museum is only about a mile away, and the Cable Car Barn & Powerhouse and the Market Street Railway historic streetcar collection are about 2 miles. Across the bay, the Redwood Valley Railway in Berkeley is about 14 miles. See California's train museums for more.

Every train museum in California

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

On a San Francisco cable car, the conductor collects your fare right on board, and I love that a real person greets you as you climb on. In our book, Mr. Conductor in a blue uniform holds out a hand to Rally, and that small kindness is what makes the whole trip feel safe. My kids are learning to read, and that page is one of their favorites. Our train books for toddlers list has more.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at San Francisco Railway Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

San Francisco Railway Museum: 20 questions visitors ask

Is the San Francisco Railway Museum free?

Yes. Admission to the San Francisco Railway Museum is free as of October 2026, and there are no tickets to buy. Market Street Railway, the nonprofit that runs it, welcomes donations and gift shop purchases, which help support its work preserving the city's historic streetcars and cable cars.

What are the San Francisco Railway Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum and gift shop are open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm, and closed on Mondays. Check streetcar.org before you go, especially around holidays, since a small nonprofit museum can change hours with little notice.

Where is the San Francisco Railway Museum?

The museum is at 77 Steuart St., San Francisco, CA 94105, at the Steuart Street stop of the F Market & Wharves streetcar line. It is half a block south of Market Street and across from the Ferry Building, only steps from the California Street cable car line.

Is there parking at the San Francisco Railway Museum?

The museum does not list parking of its own. Since it sits at an F-line streetcar stop, steps from the California Street cable car line and across from the Ferry Building, many visitors arrive by transit. If you drive, look for public garages nearby and check posted rules.

Is parking free in San Francisco on Saturday?

Parking rules vary by street and garage, and the museum does not post parking information, so check the signs and meters where you park. The simplest option for a museum visit is often to ride the F-line streetcar, which stops right outside the museum's door.

Do I need tickets for the San Francisco Railway Museum?

No. The museum is free and does not sell timed tickets; just walk in during open hours, Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm. You will need a Muni fare if you plan to ride a streetcar or cable car after your visit.

What is in the San Francisco Railway Museum?

The museum has a permanent collection of artifacts from the Market Street Railway Company and San Francisco Municipal Railway, exhibits about the F-line's antique streetcars and the city's cable cars, a retrospective on the 1906 earthquake, and a replicated end of a Market Street Railway 100-class streetcar.

What does the San Francisco Railway Museum gift shop sell?

The gift shop sells unique transit-themed gifts and books, including On Track, Market Street Railway's pocket-sized guide to the historic streetcars and cable cars. It describes each vehicle, what you will see on each route and walks you can add along the way. Purchases support the nonprofit.

Who runs the San Francisco Railway Museum?

Market Street Railway, an independent nonprofit that preserves historic transit in San Francisco, runs the museum. It opened the museum on October 7, 2006. The group does not own or operate the streetcars or cable cars, which belong to Muni, but advocates for their service and care.

Is the San Francisco Railway Museum the same as a San Francisco Municipal Railway museum?

It is the closest match. The San Francisco Railway Museum displays artifacts from both the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) and the old Market Street Railway Company. It is run by the nonprofit Market Street Railway, not by Muni itself, though the two work closely together.

How much does it cost to ride a vintage streetcar in San Francisco?

As of October 2026, vintage streetcar cash fares match Muni buses: $3 for adults and $1.50 for seniors or disabled riders, with free transfers within 90 minutes. Kids under 19 ride free. Have exact fare, since no change is given. Cable cars are $8 one way for riders over 4.

Are there trains in San Francisco you can ride?

Yes. Muni runs the vintage F-line streetcars and three cable car lines, the Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason and California Street lines, from 7 am to 11 pm every day, plus light rail. The F-line stops at the museum, so you can ride a historic streetcar right after your visit.

How much does it cost to take a train to San Francisco?

Fares depend on the regional rail service you use, so check with that operator. Once you are in the city, a vintage streetcar ride costs $3 for adults as of October 2026, kids under 19 ride free, and cable cars cost $8 one way for riders over 4.

What museums are free in San Francisco?

The San Francisco Railway Museum is free every day it is open, Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Other San Francisco museums set their own admission and free days, so check each one directly. The nearby San Francisco Cable Car Museum is another rail stop on our site worth looking up.

What day are museums free in San Francisco?

Every open day is free at the San Francisco Railway Museum, so you do not need to plan around a special free day. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 5 pm. Other museums in the city have their own policies, so check their websites for free admission days.

Is the San Francisco Railway Museum good for kids?

Yes, as a short stop. It is small, free and indoors, so kids can see the streetcar replica and earthquake exhibit in a few minutes, then go ride. Children under 19 ride Muni streetcars free, which makes an F-line trip after the museum an easy family outing.

How long does a visit to the San Francisco Railway Museum take?

Plan on 30 minutes to an hour in the museum and gift shop. Most visitors then ride a vintage streetcar along the waterfront on the F-line, so allow extra time for a round trip if you want the full experience.

Where can I see San Francisco Railway Museum photos and reviews?

Market Street Railway shares photos, videos and stories on streetcar.org and its Facebook page, and Wikipedia has a short article about the museum. Travel sites such as Tripadvisor collect visitor reviews and photos. This page does not gather reviews itself.

How can I support or volunteer at the San Francisco Railway Museum?

Join Market Street Railway annually or monthly, give a one-time donation, or volunteer; the group says it was founded by volunteers and supports them. It receives no government money, so dues and donations fund the museum and its advocacy. Email info@streetcar.org to ask about volunteering.

What rail museums are near the San Francisco Railway Museum?

The San Francisco Cable Car Museum is about a mile away, and the Cable Car Barn & Powerhouse and the Market Street Railway historic streetcar collection are about 2 miles. The Redwood Valley Railway in Berkeley is about 14 miles, and the Niles Canyon Railway about 29 miles.

Keep exploring

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Kelsey Cecil
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