The nation's only "vertical street" is in Oregon City

(August 5, 2018) Oregon City is famous. It has the nation's only vertical street. The "street" is really an elevator. The bottom of the elevator is downtown near the river. It travels up the hill. There are homes on the hill. There is also an observation deck. Visitors can see the whole city.

Before the elevator, people walk up 715 steps. The city builds the first elevator in 1915. It uses water power. The ride lasts 8 minutes. In 1925, the elevator uses electricity. Then the ride takes only 6 minutes. The city builds the current elevator in 1955. Now the ride takes only 9 seconds.

Carrie Crook is the elevator operator. She says 800-1,000 people ride the elevator each day. "People here love the elevator," says Carrie.