# Who Invented Stairs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-stairs/776304 "2017-01-04T13:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-stairs/776304/41 "2017-01-08T22:24:55Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > According to [this](http://www.cghm.org/wow/2007/history-of-the-stairs) website however, they were not “_invented until 1948, by Swiss architect Werner Bösendörfer. Prior to the advent of stairs (or “stairsteppes,” as they were originally called), most people moved between building levels using ramps or ladders._” Might as well say the floor was invented by Porcelanosa… ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-stairs/776304/42 "2017-01-09T01:52:30Z")
> [@smokey78](#): > > And with escalators being a new invention, think I did see a Victorian age illustration of an exposition fair of folks riding an escalator upwards to a platform, and then at the top having to come down to the ground via, a staircase. Very likely. [Lots of people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escalator#Inventors_and_manufacturers) invented the escalator at various times in the 19th century. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-stairs/776304/43 "2017-01-09T02:15:41Z")
It took way longer for musicians to understand the importance of stairs than one would think however… ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-stairs/776304/44 "2017-01-10T01:19:56Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The old Physics Building at the University of Utah had four floors, and no steps – it was all ramps. My office was on the top floor. Oh yes, I remember that building. All my physics classes were in the “new” building (I’m going to put new in quotes considering the time frame) there was some uncertainty about which building should host the department’s pet cat. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-stairs/776304/45 "2017-01-10T08:43:14Z")
This reminds me of an ep of _Everybody Loves Raymond,_ in which Ray’s parents were said to have argued about who invented the lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-stairs/776304/46 "2017-01-10T09:23:57Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Oh yes, I remember that building. All my physics classes were in the “new” building (I’m going to put new in quotes considering the time frame) there was some uncertainty about which building should host the department’s pet cat. There always is, until the function collapses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-stairs/776304.md?page=2)