Elevator

Hello there! My name is the Elevator, and I love to go up, up, up, and then whoosh back down! It’s the best ride. Can you imagine a city full of very tall buildings, like giant trees made of brick and glass? Now, imagine you have to get to the very top floor, but the only way is to climb hundreds and hundreds of stairs. Phew! Just thinking about it makes me tired. Before I came along, that’s what people had to do. They would get so worn out just trying to get to their homes or offices high in the sky. I knew I wanted to help. I wanted to give everyone a lift so they could save their energy for playing and working. I just needed to show them I was strong and trustworthy.

At first, people were a little nervous about riding inside me. They would look at my ropes and whisper, 'What if it falls?'. I felt a little sad because I knew I was meant to help, but I understood why they were worried. Then, my wonderful inventor, a very clever and brave man named Elisha Otis, had a brilliant idea. He decided to show the whole world how safe I was. On a big day, May 20th, 1854, we went to a huge fair in New York City. Crowds gathered around as Mr. Otis stood inside me. I lifted him higher and higher, way above everyone’s heads. Then, he did something that made the whole crowd gasp. He told a man to cut my only lifting rope with an axe! Snip! For a scary second, I started to fall, but then—CLANK! Mr. Otis’s special invention, my safety brake, grabbed onto my guides. I stopped right away. Mr. Otis looked out at the crowd and said, 'All safe, gentlemen. All safe!'. I was so proud. I didn't fall. I was safe!

That one big moment changed everything for me, and for cities all over the world. Once people knew I had my special safety brake, they weren't afraid anymore. They knew I could carry them safely. Because of me, builders and dreamers could create buildings that reached for the sky! They called them skyscrapers, and they could only exist because I was there to zip people to the top floors. Now, I spend my days helping all sorts of people. I give a lift to children with heavy school backpacks, parents carrying groceries, and grandparents whose knees don’t like stairs anymore. I carry businesspeople to important meetings on the 50th floor and families to see amazing views from the top of the world. I am so happy that I get to help everyone reach new heights and see their city from a whole new, wonderful view.