Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum Proposed

What kind of layout could be built for $65 million?

We’re about to find out; that’s how much will be spent to create the Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum in North Adams, Mass.

The museum, which is to be a celebration of notable modern architecture, will be designed by architect Frank Gehry.

The plan calls for a 83,000-square-foot museum that features model trains running past scale models of buildings by notable architects including Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright and Gehry.

According to an article in Architect News, the 670-foot long gallery will include 164 buildings by 71 international architects constructed at 1:48 scale (O guage). Twelve lines will run among the buildings.

Iconic structures that will be included will be the Seagram Building in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, Fenway Park, the Empire State building and the One World Trade Center, which will be 40 feet tall. 

The trains and buildings will also be surrounded by video-projected landscaping blending the physical models into a seamless background.

It will be built on publicly-owned land overlooking a disused rail freight yard

The projected opening date is 2021. Start making your travel plans now!

See a video about the museum here.

Read more about the project here.