San Francisco’s iconic cable cars celebrated a century-and-a-half in style after city leaders, public transit fans and historical reenactors kicked off a birthday celebration.

The San Francisco Municipal Railway maintains the current fleet of 40 cars. Not all are in service at the same time. The cable cars travel on steel tracks set above a channel enclosing the cable.

Cable Cars are synonymous with San Francisco and recognized around the world. It all started in 1873 with an idea to navigate the city's hills.

As holiday traditions go, the decorating of San Francisco’s cable car fleet may stand out as one of the most unique.

Rick Laubscher, the president of the Market Street Railway nonprofit, is proposing that San Francisco name a cable car after Tony Bennett.