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A truck driver built a model of New York for fun with more than 800,000 structures. Now it is a museum exhibition.

A truck driver built a model of New York for fun with more than 800,000 structures. Now it is a museum exhibition.

B1🇪🇸 Español🇺🇸 English

September 18th, 2026

A truck driver built a model of New York for fun with more than 800,000 structures. Now it is a museum exhibition.

B1
Please note: This article has been simplified for language learning purposes. Some context and nuance from the original text may have been modified or removed.

🇺🇸 English

Joe Macken is a truck driver.

Joe Macken es un camionero.

He spent more than twenty years of his free time building a huge model of New York.

Pasó más de veinte años de su tiempo libre construyendo una maqueta enorme de Nueva York.

New York is his hometown.

Nueva York es su ciudad natal.

He made it with balsa wood and foam board.

La hizo con madera de balsa y cartón pluma.

When he finished, his daughter convinced him to show the model on TikTok.

Cuando terminó, su hija lo convenció de mostrar la maqueta en TikTok.

The model was in the basement.

La creación estaba en el sótano.

The videos went viral almost immediately.

Los videos se hicieron virales casi de inmediato.

The model has more than 800,000 structures.

La maqueta tiene más de 800.000 estructuras.

The Museum of the City of New York contacted Macken.

El Museo de la Ciudad de Nueva York contactó a Macken.

His videos passed 10 million views in one week.

Sus videos superaron los 10 millones de visitas en una semana.

The exhibition is called He Built This City.

La exposición se llama “He Built This City”.

It opened in February, near Central Park.

Se inauguró en febrero, cerca de Central Park.

It will be open until October 12.

Estará abierta hasta el 12 de octubre.

Macken said he never thought about finishing it.

Macken dijo que nunca pensó en terminarla.

He had a lot of fun building it.

Se divertía mucho construyéndola.

The main curator, Elisabeth Sherman, said the model attracts two types of people.

La curadora principal, Elisabeth Sherman, dijo que la maqueta atrae a dos tipos de personas.

It attracts social media fans and also traditional visitors.

Atrae a seguidores de redes sociales y también a visitantes tradicionales.

According to her, people want to take in a city that is impossible to know.

Según ella, la gente quiere abarcar una ciudad imposible de conocer.

This is a way to see it from above.

Esta es una forma de verla desde arriba.

The model includes all five boroughs.

La maqueta incluye los cinco distritos.

It also includes parts of New Jersey and Long Island.

También incluye partes de Nueva Jersey y Long Island.

It is 15 meters long and almost 9 meters wide.

Mide 15 metros de largo y casi 9 de ancho.

Each inch represents about 49 meters.

Cada pulgada representa unos 49 metros.

Macken got the idea from a school trip.

Macken se inspiró en una excursión escolar.

The trip was to the Panorama of the City of New York.

La excursión fue al Panorama de la Ciudad de Nueva York.

He started building it after he turned 40.

Empezó a construirla después de los 40 años.

At that time, he moved to the north of the state.

En esa época se mudó al norte del estado.

He says he maybe missed New York.

Dice que quizá echaba de menos Nueva York.

He had no experience in models or architecture.

No tenía experiencia en maquetas ni arquitectura.

The model does not show the city today.

La maqueta no refleja la ciudad actual.

It keeps the twin towers and the old Kosciuszko Bridge.

Conserva las torres gemelas y el antiguo Puente Kosciuszko.

Macken hopes to show it in another place.

Macken espera exhibirla en otro lugar.

He also wants to add more than 50 new buildings.

También quiere añadir más de 50 edificios nuevos.

September 18th, 2026

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