Gulliver’s Gate – A World in Miniature
A World in Miniature in Times Square – Gulliver’s Gate
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Gulliver’s Gate is an amazing new sight to see in New York City. This new permanent exhibition is a world in miniature. Almost 50,000 square feet, Gulliver’s Gate displays New York City and other places around the world in miniature. At a scale of 1:87 a person who is 6 foot tall is represented by a figure that is just .8″ tall.
We LOVED this exhibit! Purchase your tickets up front where you’ll receive a key to the city. The key, which is yours to keep, opens interactive experiences when you use it to turn on or highlight different parts of the exhibits. Sometimes the key turns on a light, starts the movement of a helicopter or makes a show begin in a tiny theatre. We especially enjoyed the scene where our key made the cows moo and the tiny chickens peck the ground.
You’ll get a close up view of things and appreciate it all the more from your vantage point as a giant, just as the exhibition’s namesake, Gullvier, who towered above the Lilliputins in the book Gulliver’s travels.
If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie, you’ll want to do that before or after the trip!
Marvel at the architectural details like the ceiling in Grand Central Station which is painted with the stars in a night sky. Check out the balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving day Parade.
Gulliver’s Gate – Accurate with some surprises
While the small army of artists from all over the world carefully created accurate scenes with perfect replicas of landscapes and architecture, they also had some fun using artistic license.
GREAT chance to discuss artistic license with the kids!! A refresher for those of us who were not English list majors:
Artistic License – the freedom to create an artwork of some sort based on the artist’s impression and interpretation rather than exact fact
After explaining artistic license to the kids, use the scavenger hunt you’ll receive with your ticket and key to find examples. Keep your eyes open because the scavenger hunt lists only a small number of the extra fun things the artist add to the exhibits. For example, movie fans will be delighted to find both Batman keeping an eye on the city as well as the Ghost Buster crew zapping a creature not of this world.
Gulliver’s Gates – Timeline – Mixture of the present and the past
One more example of artistic license involves the time line. Â The buildings are current and you key unlocks movement of modern machinery like cranes and bulldozers and helicopters. At the same time, though, you’ll see interesting snipits from the past like an encampment of the Lenape Indians who inhabited the New York area long before the city was built.
My favorite blast from the past was in New York City model of the West Side Cowboys of Death Avenue. These were experienced real life cowboys who rode horses ahead of trains on 10th avenue between 1850 – 1941 to warn pedestrians to get out of the way of oncoming trains.
Wander around the exhibit, which is so large it takes up an entire city block, to see different parts of the world. The scale is fascinating. You know the Eiffel Tower is big but you get a whole new sense of that when you see it from above with the people walking around it. They look like tiny ants.
Peek inside the hanger at the world’s largest miniature airport (Love putting the words ‘largest’ and ‘miniature’ in the same sentence. I’m such an English teacher nerd!) to see a surprise. I’m not going to tell you exactly what it is, but History Channel fans will know when I say, “I’m not going to say it is aliens, but…”.
Gulliver’s Gates – Creators
Gulliver’s Gate is the brain child of co-owners, Eiran Gazit and Michael Langer. Gazit, who loves miniatures, has experience in the miniature world having founded another miniature exhibit – Mini Israel which displays scenes from Israel over 14 acres near Jeruselem.
Aaron Hartzler, author of What We Saw, has the most amazing quote for this exhibit:
“The closer you look, the more you see”
A really cool, but pricey opportunity, is to have your model made and become a part of the exhibit. The machine which photographs you from all angles and then prints a model of you is SUPER high tech. Only three of these types of cool machines ever exist!
It is exciting to see a little bit of the behind the scenes. You can see artists at work on new buildings, partially completed scenes and even ‘plant’ you own tree in a spot where they allow you to touch the scene.
Of all that NYC has to offer (and there is a LOT) be sure to add Gulliver’s Gate to your list of things you MUST see during your visit.
Don’t be afraid of the steep price tag to enter. The experience is worth every penny. You can save $5 on your entrance fee by collecting a coupon from the hawkers nearby outside. You’ll walk past them anyway on your way here. Or book online to save $5 per ticket.
Three of our tickets were given to me in exchange for this post but I would have happily paid full price. It is a fantastic and VERY unique thing to see. A MUST see for your visit to New York City.
Gulliver’s Gate  – Location
****Warning*** The website says it is in Times Square. I’m sure that is technically correct somehow, but if you show up in the middle of Times Square you will not find it.
Use GPS on your phone to locate it – NEAR Times Square – not IN Times Square.
216 W. 44th Street (between 7th and 8th)
Gulliver’s Gate – Cost
Seniors (65 and older) $27
Adults (13 – 64) $36
Children (6 – 12) $27
Children (0-5) FREE
Be sure to get your $5 off coupon from the people on the street nearby who are giving out coupons. OR book online to save $5 off EACH ticket.
Gulliver’s Gate – Hours
*Go online for special holiday hours*
Open 7 days a week. Â 10:00 – 8:00
Go to the Gulliver’s Gate website to buy tickets and read the cancellation policy.
Be sure to learn about New York City before you go so you don’t miss a thing!
CLICK HERE – List of kids books about New York City
CLICK HERE – Download your travel activity guide for the kids on New York City
Eating in New York City is so much a part of the fun – from take away pizza to sit down fancy meals, you’ll love what New York City has to offer.
CLICK HERE – Milo’s is a top rated restaurant. Get reservations ahead of time.
CLICK HERE – Ray’s Pizza is New York’s BEST pizza
What else should you see in New York City?
CLICK HERE – Â The New York City Library – Home to the REAL Winnie the Pooh
CLICK HERE – Morgan Library – Right out of Harry Potter
Happy Travels!
Natalie, The Educational Tourist
yes, quite of times i heard about this on news channels but never understand what is actually it. But you wrote wonderful article for similar topic and made it marvelous with adding your writing skills. I am happy to read this article about world miniature.
Eiran Gazit is the correct spelling.
Otherwise, great article, thanks
Thanks so much!
Super Cool! There actually a miniature world in Victoria British Columbia which is pretty cool to visit as well!