Original: The first reference to an elevator is in the works of the Roman architect Vitruvius, who reported that Archimedes (c. 287 BC â "c. 212 BC) built his first elevator probably in 236 BC.
Simplified: The first reference to an elevator is in the works of the Roman architect Vitruvius, who reported that Archimedes built his first elevator, probably in 236 B.C..