Press Release: He Built This City
He Built This City: Joe Macken’s Model to go on view at the Museum of the City of New York
Monumental handmade model made famous on social media makes its New York City debut in February
Press Preview: Monday, February 9, 2026
Press Contact: Chris Gorman, PressOffice@mcny.org and 917.492.3482
New York, NY (November 10, 2025)—The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) announces He Built This City: Joe Macken’s Model, a new exhibition opening to the public on Thursday, February 12, 2026, celebrating the extraordinary vision and dedication of Queens-born artist Joe Macken. Presented publicly for the first time in New York City—the very subject of the work—Macken’s model stands as a deeply personal yet universally resonant tribute to the city.
Beginning in 2003 and continuing over the next 21 years, Macken, born in Middle Village, Queens and now a resident of Clifton Park, New York, devoted himself to creating an intricate, large-scale architectural model of New York City.
Built entirely by hand from everyday materials such as balsa wood, cardboard, and glue, in its entirety the model measures 50 by 27 feet and is composed of 320 distinct sections. It captures New York City’s skyline, neighborhoods, and landmarks with remarkable precision and character. Macken began the model with the Comcast Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, which incorporates distinctive features that reflect his personal vision.
The model will be on view in the Museum’s Dinan Miller Gallery, just steps from permanent exhibitions such as New York at Its Core and Timescapes. Together, these presentations form a dynamic conversation: New York at Its Core traces 400 years of the city’s evolution through themes of density, diversity, money, and creativity; the film Timescapes animates the city’s spatial expansion; and Macken’s sprawling handmade model offers a tangible, artistic interpretation of New York’s built landscape, bringing the city’s past and present into a shared space.
“Joe’s model reflects the wonder and complexity of this city through the eyes of someone who has lived it, loved it, and painstakingly rebuilt it.” said Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, Ronay Menschel Director and President of MCNY. “We are honored to debut this remarkable work at the Museum.”
Elisabeth Sherman, Robert A. and Elizabeth Rohn Jeffe Chief Curator and Deputy Director of MCNY: “Every person who lives in New York—briefly or for decades—walks around with their own mental map of the city as it was when they first knew it and as it is today. Uniquely and with remarkable dedication, Joe made physical his personal New York City, at once faithful to the real geography while imbued with personal touches that make it uniquely his own.”
Joe Macken commented: “After 21 years of work on my New York City model, I am very excited for the opportunity to display it at Museum of the City of New York. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, after so much hard work, dedication, and enjoyment throughout the process of creating the model. I hope the public will visit the Museum and see a miniature version of this great city.”
About the Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world’s most influential metropolis. Through exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, the Museum explores what gives New York City its singular character and global impact.
Visitor Information
The Museum is located at 1220 Fifth Avenue. Public hours are Monday - Friday, 10:00 am–5:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am–6:00 p.m. Learn more at mcny.org.
Image: Cindy Schultz/The New York Times/Redux.
