Artist's Massive Model of NYC on Display in East Harlem

The Museum of the City of New York is hosting a 50-by-27-foot handcrafted model of New York City created by a Queens native over 21 years.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Museum of the City of New York is currently displaying a massive, handcrafted model of New York City created by Middle Village, Queens native Joe Macken. The model, which took Macken over 21 years to build in his basement, measures 50 by 27 feet and features detailed replicas of the buildings, bridges, and infrastructure of the five boroughs and a portion of New Jersey. The museum's exhibition, titled "He Built This City", opened on February 12th and will allow visitors to marvel at Macken's impressive feat of craftsmanship and dedication.

Why it matters

Macken's model provides a unique, intricate view of New York City's iconic skyline and urban landscape, capturing the scale and complexity of the metropolis. As a lifelong New Yorker, Macken's passion project highlights the city's architectural history and evolution, while also showcasing the ingenuity and creativity of an individual artist. The exhibition offers visitors an immersive experience to appreciate the city from a new perspective.

The details

Macken began constructing the model in 2004, starting with a replica of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Over the next 21 years, he painstakingly carved and assembled more than 320 individual sections, using balsa wood and foam boards, to create a comprehensive representation of New York's five boroughs and a portion of New Jersey. The model was transported to the museum in a rental truck, with Macken carefully stacking and securing the lightweight components for the 14-hour installation process.

  • Macken began building the model in 2004.
  • The model is currently on display at the Museum of the City of New York starting on February 12, 2026.

The players

Joe Macken

A Middle Village, Queens native who handcrafted the massive model of New York City over the course of 21 years in his basement.

The Museum of the City of New York

The museum hosting the exhibition "He Built This City" featuring Macken's model of New York City.

Elisabeth Sherman

The Robert A. and Elizabeth Rohn Jeffe chief curator and deputy director at the Museum of the City of New York.

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What they’re saying

“I can't stop looking at it, and I'm the one who built it.”

— Joe Macken (ny1.com)

“Thank goodness for Joe and his ingenuity and creativity, it was actually one of the easiest installs any of us have ever worked on because Joe is so self-sufficient and so comfortable handling it.”

— Elisabeth Sherman, The Robert A. and Elizabeth Rohn Jeffe chief curator and deputy director at the Museum of the City of New York (ny1.com)

What’s next

Macken plans to continue expanding the model over the next 10 years to include more of the New York metropolitan area, including Westchester, New Jersey out to the Meadowlands, Newark Airport, and parts of Connecticut.

The takeaway

Macken's dedication and craftsmanship in creating this intricate model of New York City over more than two decades showcases the passion and creativity of an individual artist, while also providing visitors with a unique perspective on the scale and complexity of the iconic urban landscape.