Joe Macken, a Queens resident, spent 21 years hand-assembling a vast 50-by-27-foot scale model of New York City, completing it in 2025. The model, built from cardboard, glue, and balsa wood, comprises 340 individual sections and is now on long-term display at the Museum of the City of New York in an exhibition titled "He Built This City: Joe Macken’s Model." Visitors can walk around the model and use binoculars to spot familiar buildings and neighborhoods.
This painstakingly crafted model offers a unique, intimate perspective on New York City's urban landscape, contrasting with the famous "Panorama of the City of New York" at the Queens Museum, which was completed by a large team in 1964. Macken's solo achievement highlights the power of individual dedication and handmade artistry in an era of digital and mass-produced representations, making the city's geography accessible and engaging for museum audiences.