Upstate Trucking Icon's Miniature NYC Takes Center Stage in Museum Exhibition
After gaining a massive following on TikTok, Joe Macken's 20-year labor of love – a scale model of every building in the five boroughs – is finally set to be showcased at the Museum of the City of New York. The monumental 50-by-30-foot balsa wood model, made without formal training and using only glue, Styrofoam, and patience, will make its public debut on February 12th, 2026.
Since the model's viral rise in August, it has become an exhibit hit at local events, with a private showing at Cobleskill Fairgrounds near Albany proving particularly popular. Now, Museum of the City of New York officials have formally offered Macken a spot for his work in their halls.
Macken's masterpiece stands as a deeply personal yet universally resonant tribute to NYC – a city that has become an integral part of him. The model is built with two decades' worth of painstaking work and reflects his own hand, technique, and personality. While it may have been inspired by the larger-than-life scale models at other institutions like the Queens Museum's "Panorama," Macken's model is distinct in its personal touch.
According to Elisabeth Sherman, MCNY's Chief Curator and Deputy Director, Joe's work embodies the city that was there before modern developments – one where what was there before is more real and solid than what's here now. His creation truly captures the essence of the city through the eyes of someone who has lived it, loved it, and painstakingly rebuilt it.
For Macken, this exhibit marks a milestone. "I'm thrilled," he said during an interview while on his truck route. Though excited about the opportunity, Joe plans to keep working – albeit slowly – as part of his job driving large vehicles like a 25-foot U-Haul rented for the exhibition. A key concern is maintaining stability but so far, the experienced driver has already successfully navigated displays like Cobleskill Fairgrounds without major casualties.
On January 2026, Joe Macken's masterpiece will now be on display at MCNY – in an event that promises to celebrate this city and its unique stories told through an artist's vision.
After gaining a massive following on TikTok, Joe Macken's 20-year labor of love – a scale model of every building in the five boroughs – is finally set to be showcased at the Museum of the City of New York. The monumental 50-by-30-foot balsa wood model, made without formal training and using only glue, Styrofoam, and patience, will make its public debut on February 12th, 2026.
Since the model's viral rise in August, it has become an exhibit hit at local events, with a private showing at Cobleskill Fairgrounds near Albany proving particularly popular. Now, Museum of the City of New York officials have formally offered Macken a spot for his work in their halls.
Macken's masterpiece stands as a deeply personal yet universally resonant tribute to NYC – a city that has become an integral part of him. The model is built with two decades' worth of painstaking work and reflects his own hand, technique, and personality. While it may have been inspired by the larger-than-life scale models at other institutions like the Queens Museum's "Panorama," Macken's model is distinct in its personal touch.
According to Elisabeth Sherman, MCNY's Chief Curator and Deputy Director, Joe's work embodies the city that was there before modern developments – one where what was there before is more real and solid than what's here now. His creation truly captures the essence of the city through the eyes of someone who has lived it, loved it, and painstakingly rebuilt it.
For Macken, this exhibit marks a milestone. "I'm thrilled," he said during an interview while on his truck route. Though excited about the opportunity, Joe plans to keep working – albeit slowly – as part of his job driving large vehicles like a 25-foot U-Haul rented for the exhibition. A key concern is maintaining stability but so far, the experienced driver has already successfully navigated displays like Cobleskill Fairgrounds without major casualties.
On January 2026, Joe Macken's masterpiece will now be on display at MCNY – in an event that promises to celebrate this city and its unique stories told through an artist's vision.
and now it's gonna be showcased at the Museum of the City of New York which is a big deal! Joe Macken's passion for NYC really shines through in his work, you can tell he put his heart into it 
! I mean, who wouldn't wanna see a 50-by-30-foot balsa wood masterpiece of the five boroughs?! It's like something out of a dream (or a crazy TikTok video 
). I love how it's Joe Macken's labor of love and how personal it is – it's like you can feel his passion and dedication going into every tiny detail. I'm so stoked that it's getting the recognition it deserves, especially from the Museum of the City of New York 
. Can't wait to see it in person on Feb 12th! 
i cant even blv tht joe mackens 20 yr projkt is finally gettin the recognition it deservs!! 
his tiny NYC buildin model is literally insane!!! who needs formal trainin when u got glue, styrofoam & patience lol??? 
But, on the other hand, isn't it kinda weird that Joe Macken made all these balsa wood buildings without any formal training or anything? Like, what if he messed up and they're all gonna fall down on opening day?
But, at the same time, I guess that's what makes it so unique and personal, right? I mean, it's not some fancy-schmancy museum exhibit with a million boring details. It's just Joe's thing, made out of love and glue.
Or maybe it's still gonna be a disaster waiting to happen... Ugh, decisions! 
... 20 years is a long time, but how much detail did Joe Macken really put into it? I mean, 50-by-30 feet is massive, what about the tiny details that only a hardcore fan would notice? And what's with all the hype on TikTok - was it just a viral sensation or was there some behind-the-scenes magic? 
Plus, he had to rent a huge U-Haul truck for his "job" driving 