Truck driver spends decades carving a scale model masterpiece of New York City

February 7, 2026

TL;DR

Joe Macken, a truck driver, began building a miniature replica of the RCA Building in 2004.
His project expanded to include all of Rockefeller Center, Midtown, Manhattan, and eventually all of New York City.
The scale model is so large it required storage space outside of his basement.
Each square in his miniature creation represents about 1 square mile of New York City.
The exhibit "Little Apple" is on display at the Museum of the City of New York, featuring all five boroughs, sites, stadiums, bridges, and buildings, comprising nearly 1 million structures.
Macken's wife, Trish, has been supportive of his decades-long "obsession."
Macken intends to continue building, potentially covering all of New York state.

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