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Detroit skyline featured in Lego exhibit on iconic skyscrapers at Henry Ford Museum

“Towers of Tomorrow” features over 20 buildings made from more than half a million Lego bricks

A series of skyscrapers constructed out of Legos. The detailing is impressive.
Detroit skyline at “Towers of Tomorrow.”
[KMS] Photography

Some pretty astounding things can be built using Lego’s straightforward blocks. It just takes an incredible amount of time.

Nowhere is that more evident than at Towers of Tomorrow, a traveling exhibition on display at the Henry Ford Museum through January 5, 2020. There, visitors can see 20 of the world’s most recognizable skyscrapers—like New York’s Empire State Building, China’s Shanghai Tower, and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa—built out of hundreds of thousands of Lego blocks.

There’s also a special display of Detroit’s skyline featuring the Guardian, Penobscot, Book Cadillac, and other iconic buildings.

Is it an accurate recreation of the city? Not exactly. The Detroit Zoo water tower, Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse on Belle Isle, and the demolished Fort Street Union Depot are some of the buildings that dot this downtown. But it’s certainly fun and impressive.

The non-Detroit buildings were constructed by Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught, a certified Lego professional, on a 1:200 scale using more than half a million bricks. The project took over 2,400 hours.

According to the Detroit News, the Detroit buildings were all constructed by local enthusiasts.

Four more skyscrapers built out of Legos. They’re protected by a low green glass wall.
Other skyscrapers featured in the exhibit.
[KMS] Photography