In 2004, truck driver Joe Macken began creating a miniature replica of New York City’s Rockefeller Center from balsa wood, which ultimately led to a vast scale model of the entire city, now known as “Little Apple.” After two decades of work, his collection, featuring nearly a million structures, will be displayed at the Museum of the City of New York starting February 12, 2026. Supported by his wife Trish, Macken plans to continue expanding his project indefinitely. His journey exemplifies how passion can lead to unexpected masterpieces.
