Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Times Square Is Getting A Miniature World To Gawk At
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Nov 17, 2015
Modified Nov 17, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Nov 17, 2015
Modified Nov 17, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A tiny version of the world is coming to Times Square in 2017, and though there are very few reasons to set foot in that hellscape save for a Dave & Buster's trip, a miniature Antarctica seems worth braving a few squillion slow-moving tourists.
The exhibition, dubbed "Gulliver's Gate" (get it?) is helmed by Eiran Gazit, an Israeli entrepreneur who commissioned the very popular Mini Israel park in the Ayalon Valley. Like that impressive attraction, Gulliver's Gate aims to create an intricate, realistic Lilliputian universe, with teensy built-to-scale models of everything from Rome to Manhattan. Designers are also taking inspiration from Miniatur Wunderland, a miniature model railway in Hamburg, Germany, so you can expect tons of teeny planes, trains and automobiles, too.
Best of all, though Mini Israel and Miniatur Wunderland are a "look but don't touch" kind of thing, designers say Gulliver's Gate will be a more hands-on experience, with smartphone apps, remote controls and other doodads that'll help visitors operate some of the attraction's more movable parts. You'll also be able to make a couple mini-versions of your own person, thanks to a full-body scanner and 3D printer that'll be on deck.
The bad news is, you won't be able to play with all the tiny cities until April 2017, when the exhibition is expected to open at 216 West 44th Street—it'll also cost you $30 to get into the attraction, which sucks, since you'll probably be paying like $5K/month in rent by then. Ah, well! In the meantime, enjoy this video for a glimpse at some of the miniatures to come, along with some less-than-scintillating renderings:
Tagged
gulliver's gate
miniatures
Times Square
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 23, 2026
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .