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Joe Macken’s 800,000-Piece NYC Model Draws Museum Crowds
The exhibit features more than 800,000 balsa-wood structures and drew viral attention after Macken’s TikTok clips topped 10 million views in a week.
- Since opening in February, truck driver Joe Macken's massive scale model of New York City, featuring over 800,000 balsa wood structures, has been on display at the Museum of the City of New York along museum row near Central Park.
- Driven by childhood memories of the Queens Museum's Panorama, Macken spent over two decades constructing the 50-foot-long model during his free time as a bus driver, using balsa wood and foam board.
- Viral TikTok videos showcasing the model gained more than 10 million views in one week, prompting the Museum of the City of New York to contact Macken. Chief curator Elisabeth Sherman said the model appeals to both social media followers and traditional museum-goers.
- Visitors flock to the gallery to inspect the detailed model, often using binoculars to spot landmarks; Jonathan Skolnik recently traced his family's history for his son, Tosha, pointing out his father's first address near the Williamsburg Bridge.
- The exhibit runs until Columbus Day, when Macken hopes to display his work elsewhere. Meanwhile, he plans to add more than 50 new buildings and expand the model into New Jersey and Long Island.
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A truck driver built a model of NYC with over 800,000 structures for f
Lower Manhattan, featuring both the One World Trade and the Twin Towers, is seen on a large model of the New York City, made by Joe Macken, at the Museum of the City of New York in New York, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
·Baltimore, United States
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Associated Press News+25 Reposted by 25 other sources
A truck driver built a model of NYC with over 800,000 structures for fun. Now it's a museum exhibit
A truck driver who spent two decades building a massive scale model of his native New York City was delighted when it went viral on TikTok.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources28
Leaning Left11Leaning Right4Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Center
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center
L 41%
C 44%
15%
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