Cable Car Barn & Powerhouse
Transit facility / museum · operated by the Municipal Transportation Agency
Wikimedia Commons · Jaredzimmerman (WMF) · CC BY-SA 4.0The Cable Car Barn, Powerhouse and Museum at Washington and Mason Streets anchors these records. A 1980 East/West notice describes an $11,787,000 "Rehabilitation of Cable Car Barn," and a Civil Grand Jury report finds the barn, rebuilt in a 1982 project, was remade "without complete consideration for its intended functions." A Muni data guide notes the barn was built in 1887, rebuilt in 1982–84, spans 83,741 sq ft, and houses the cable car museum. A Hetch Hetchy report locates the cable-winding machinery in the Cable Car Powerhouse, and 2009 MTA minutes authorize a management agreement with the Friends of the Cable Car Museum. It is operated by the Municipal Transportation Agency, whose FY2025 budget line is about $1.5B.
City Facilities registry · parcel 0190005 · Supervisor District 3
Construction permits on this parcel
- In-kind replacement of 3 exterior rollup doors for cable car barn. project is categorically exempt from the california…2022 · issued$199,999
- Recommencement and completion of work approved under pa# 202203180316 & 202402286705.2026 · issued$190,000
- City job/addition of mezznine offices1993 · expired$150,000
- Sfmta radio upgrade project install dis server, install cables, coax, h yberflex, fiber optic dc in conduits and trays.…2015 · complete$20,000
- T.i. sprinkler change fire sprinkler heads1999 · expired$6,000
- To install 2 fire sprinkler heads in new office2015 · issued$1,028
Figures come from different city ledgers (voter bonds, contracts, permits) and are not additive — a bond fund pays the contracts for the same job. Sources: SF GO Bond program, vendor vouchers, building permits (DataSF).
Operated by the Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni) — department budget $1.5B, 6,381 staff citywide (FY2025), not this place’s own.
The 6 documents behind the summary above, held at the Internet Archive — Democracy’s Library plus IA’s San Francisco Public Library partnership scans. Every link opens the scanned page with the match highlighted.
- Strategic plan 2000 : short range transit plan : draft for public review and comment / San Francisco Municipal Railway · 2000 ↗
A 2000 Muni short-range transit plan proposes a Cable Car Museum renovation at the Cable Car Barn, 1201 Mason Street, with no schedule or funding yet set.
San Francisco Municipal RailwayInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
- Minutes · 2000 ↗
2009 MTA Board minutes authorize an agreement for management and operation of the Cable Car Museum with the Friends of the Cable Car Museum, running to June 30, 2019.
San Francisco (Calif.). Municipal Transportation Agency. Board of Directors,San Francisco (Calif.). Parking AuthorityInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
- Civil Grand Jury reports · 1977 ↗
A Civil Grand Jury report examines the 1982 rebuild of the cable car barn and drive system and faults the barn's reconstruction, including a too-low cable-delivery door and unbalanced turntables.
California. Grand Jury (San Francisco)Internet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans - Annual report · 1976 ↗
A Hetch Hetchy annual report locates the cable-winding machinery and its electric motors in the Cable Car Powerhouse at Washington and Mason Streets.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Hetch Hetchy Water and Power System,San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Bureau of Light, Heat and PowerInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
- East/West · 1980 ↗
A 1980 East/West notice sets out an $11,787,000 rehabilitation of the Cable Car Barn within a $43,757,000 cable-car program, deemed categorically exempt under CEQA.
East/West Pub. Co.Internet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans - The data guide, 1990-1991 · 1990 ↗
A Muni data guide records the barn at 1201 Mason (83,741 sq ft), built 1887 and rebuilt 1982–84, housing the cable car museum and the 510-hp motors driving the four cables.
San Francisco Municipal Railway. Community Affairs DeptInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
City budget & payments: SF Controller open data (budget, vouchers, contracts) · Historical documents: Internet Archive — SFPL partnership scans + Democracy's Library
