Reconstruction (1866-1877) A film of San Francisco's Market Street MPEG Format (15.5 MB) Help With Video Credits San Franciscan Andrew Smith Hallidie Patented the First Cable Car January 17, 1871 Maybe he got the idea watching poor panting horses pull carriages full of people up San Francisco's steep hills. Whatever motivated him, Andrew Smith Hallidie patented his design for a "horseless streetcar" on January 17, 1871, and soon arranged financial backing to make a cable car system a reality. page 1 of 2 Library Of Congress | Legal Notices | Privacy | Site Map | Contact Us VIDEO CREDIT: "Market Street before parade / American Mutoscope and Biograph Company.," 1903. Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division, Library of Congress. Call Number LC 1703.