Joseph Macken, a truck driver from Queens, has spent 21 years building a scale model of New York City. The project features nearly one million structures, replicating the city’s streets, alleys, and skyscrapers in detail. According to Gothamist, the model extends beyond the five boroughs to include parts of Westchester, Long Island, and New Jersey.
Although Joseph Macken has no formal background in carpentry or engineering, his basement project has gained widespread attention on TikTok. He explained to Gothamist that he began by filming himself discussing his first section, Downtown Manhattan. The videos have drawn more than 20 million views. Macken noted that he aimed to represent every building in the city—a goal that remains unverified. The New York City Department of Buildings estimates the city has more than one million structures.
Macken's journey into this miniature cosmos began after a childhood visit to the Queens Museum's "Panorama" ignited a desire to replicate the experience. Crafting started with simple materials like balsa wood, Elmer’s glue, and Styrofoam. "The RCA building at Rockefeller Center," was the first of many to rise from his workbench. His passion project has grown to command attention from potentially interested institutions like the Museum of the City of New York in Manhattan, as confirmed by a museum spokesperson who praised his "ingenuity, creativity and skill," as per Gothamist.
Interest in Macken’s project extends beyond TikTok, as he has expressed plans to eventually take the large-scale model on tour for in-person viewing. In an interview with ABC7NY, he said the experience has felt like entering “another world.” Some visitors have reportedly traveled significant distances to see the model, which continues to expand and may soon include the Meadowlands in New Jersey, home to Macken’s favorite team, the Jets.
Macken is considering options for the future of his large-scale model but has made clear he does not intend to return it to storage, telling Gothamist, “I don’t wanna put it back in storage." He added, "That’s for damn sure.”
