There are only four municipal elevators in the world, and Oregon City is home to one of them. In 1915, the Oregon City Municipal Elevator was erected to bridge the gap between the lower part of town and the new upper bluff. The original water-powered lift took a full three minutes to travel a short distance. When switched to electricity in 1924, the ride took a mere 30 seconds. The current elevator was constructed in 1955 and is still in operation.