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30 BCE
hoists
Elevator history begins several hundred years before Christ. The earliest elevators were called hoists. They were powered by human and animal power, or sometimes water-driven mechanisms. They were in use as early as the 3rd century BC. -
water sourced elevators
Modern elevators were developed during the 1800s. These crude elevators slowly evolved from steam driven to hydraulic power. The first hydraulic elevators were designed using water pressure as the source of power. -
first safety contrivance for elevators
In 1852, Elisha Graves Otis introduced the first safety contrivance for elevators.
Otis established a company for manufacturing elevators and went on to dominate the elevator industry. Today the Otis Elevator Factory is the world's largest manufacturer of vertical transport systems. -
electricity powered elevator
Motor technology and control methods evolved rapidly and electricity quickly became the accepted source of power. The safety and speed of these elevators were significantly enhanced.
The first electric elevator was built by the German inventor Wener Von Siemens in 1880. -
modern elevators
Today, modern commercial buildings commonly have multiple elevators with a unified control system. In addition, all modern elevators have special override controls (to make elevators go directly to a specific floor without intermediate stops).
