The inventor of the cable car was Andrew Hallidie, a Scottish engineer and wire rope manufacturer. Hallidie's inspiration came after observing a team of four horses struggling to haul a public conveyance up a steep San Francisco hill. The cobblestone street was slick from the fog, and when one horse slipped, the car rolled backwards, dragging all four horses with it. Hallidie then designed a cable railway system, and at 5:00 a.m. on August 2, 1873, Hallidie guided the first cable car down Clay Street. Today, San Francisco has 38 cable cars in its fleet.
The USS Pampanito (SS-383) is a meticulously restored World War II diesel-electric powered submarine. Located at Historic Pier 45, in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf, Pampanito is both a museum and a memorial to those who served in the "silent service." Built in 1943, Pampanito made six patrols in the Pacific during which she sank six enemy ships and damaged four others. Open daily to the public, offering self-guided audio tours and (by prior arrangement) docent-led tours