After 21 Years, Truck Driver's Miniature NYC Model with Nearly a Million Buildings Finds Exhibition Home

Joe Macken, a 63-year-old truck driver, has completed a monumental miniature replica of New York City after 21 years of meticulous work, and the sprawling creation has now secured an exhibition space. The model, which measures an impressive 30 feet wide and 50 feet long, has captivated social media users and is reported to feature nearly a million hand-carved buildings. This significant development was highlighted in a recent tweet by "paula," who exclaimed, > "the guy who spent 21 years building a miniature version of nyc got an exhibition space!!"

A native of Middle Village, Queens, Macken began his ambitious project in April 2004, inspired by the Manhattan skyline visible from his childhood window. He meticulously crafted buildings from balsa wood and Elmer's glue, initially focusing on one structure per night. Macken, who moved upstate 20 years ago, pursued this as a dedicated hobby, driven by his lifelong fascination with city skylines, as he told the New York Post.

His magnum opus encompasses all five New York City boroughs, along with portions of New Jersey, Westchester, and Long Island, spread across 350 individual panels. Manhattan alone took 12 years to complete, with each skyscraper requiring individual attention due to their unique shapes. For the more uniform residential areas in the outer boroughs, Macken developed time-saving techniques, mass-producing blocks of houses, though the overall material cost is estimated between $20,000 and $40,000. Notably, the model includes the Twin Towers, which Macken "kept" as they were his favorite buildings growing up in Queens.

The project gained significant viral attention on platforms like TikTok, where viewers lauded Macken's dedication and urged cultural institutions to showcase his work. This public enthusiasm has culminated in the model finding a dedicated exhibition venue, a notable achievement given Macken's earlier concerns about the logistical challenges of displaying such a massive piece. The securing of this space marks a significant milestone for the artist and his two-decade-long endeavor.

While the miniature city's initial display location has yet to be widely announced, its newfound exhibition home promises wider public access to this extraordinary work of art. Macken, who juggled this project with his full-time job as a truck driver and family life, expressed intentions to expand his creative pursuits. He plans to embark on miniature versions of other cities, with Minneapolis slated as his next subject, a project he estimates will take "only about two years" compared to the New York model.