New York Skyscraper Museum

Manhattan Mini Models crafted by Michael Chesko

I read an article in the March issue of WIRED about this guy who'd "spent more than 2,000 hours constructing this highly detailed, nearly perfect scale model of midtown Manhattan" out of balsa wood. 

The article mentioned that the model was on exhibit at the New York Skyscraper Museum, which I didn't even know existed.  After visiting the museum a few weeks ago, that's no surprise, since it's just a small space carved out in the Ritz Carlton building in Battery Park City (on the southwestern tip of Manhattan, one subway stop from our apartment).

Though there wasn't much to the museum, the Michael Chesko exhibit was pretty impressive.  There were also a few other cool artifacts on display, like the wooden wind tunnel models used for the Twin Towers.

It was a great day to walk around the Battery.  Becca and I strolled from the museum over to Bowling Green, past the Charging Bull's balls (which are invariably being cupped by a tourist for a photo op) and the New York Stock Exchange, down to the east end of Wall St, and over to South Street Seaport.  I had my camera with me, so I was able to blend in seamlessly with the tourists.