Elevators have played a significant role in the development of New York City. The first elevator in NYC was installed in 1857 in a five-story department store on Broadway. This early elevator was powered by steam and required an operator to manually control the movement of the elevator.

As the city began to grow taller with the advent of skyscrapers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, elevators became increasingly important. The first skyscraper in NYC, the 10-story Park Row Building, was completed in 1899 and featured electric elevators. In 1902, the first high-speed elevator was installed in the 31-story Flatiron Building. This elevator could travel at a speed of 800 feet per minute, making it one of the fastest in the world at the time. During the 1930s, new technologies such as automatic elevators and destination dispatch systems were introduced, allowing for more efficient movement of people in tall buildings. In the 1950s and 1960s, the development of the express elevator and the sky lobby concept allowed for even taller buildings to be constructed, such as the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center.

Today, NYC continues to push the boundaries of elevator technology with the development of ultra-fast elevators and the use of vertical transportation in new forms such as the observation decks and tourist attractions. Elevators have played a crucial role in the development of NYC and continue to shape the city's skyline. With new technologies and innovations being developed, the future of elevators in NYC is sure to be even more impressive.