The Victorina houses nestled atop the city's high hills typify San Francisco's charm, these magnificent homes, renowned for their beautiful woodwork, were built between 1860 and 1906 to accommodate the thousands of people who flocked to California during the gold rush. The architecture of these homes and their highly ornate facades were influenced by several artistic trends. The Queen Anne style is among the most recognizable, with its asymmetric forms, turrets and steep roofs. Italianate-style houses featured cornices and window frames sporting neo-classical motifs, while Eastlake- style home are characterized by geometric and angular lines, and protruding square windows.

Originally intended for the poor, the land located atop or along the slope of the city's hills was eventually taken over by wealthier families once cable car service was introduced there. This means of transpiration, invented in 1874 by Andrew S. Hallidie, is pulled by a powerfully underground cable capable of moving a car uphill at a constant speed of 9 mph (15 km/h). In 1889, there were eight city routes covering a total of 112 miles (180 kilometers). Today, there are but 40 cable cars operating along three routes that transport over eight million passengers annually.

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