The Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook, Iowa is home to the work of artist Patrick Acton. Acton has been creating detailed scale models out of matchsticks for nearly 40 years. The museum displays75 of his most intricate and life-like sculptures, complex machines, and world-renowned architecture.
Acton's models are made from hundreds of thousands of two-inch matchsticks, which he carefully shapes, warps, and glues together by hand. He uses a variety of techniques to create his models, including gluing sheets of matchsticks together for use on the substructures. Acton's models are unpainted, except for a North American P-51 Mustang, which he regrets painting because it covered his work.
Some of Acton's most notable models include a 13-foot long true-to-scale model of the battleship USS Iowa, and a 12-foot lighted model of the United States Capitol. His models have been seen on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Home and Garden TV, PBS, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and RFD's Small Town, Big Deal.
The Matchstick Marvels Museum is open to the public year-round. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. The museum is located at105 Main Street in Gladbrook, Iowa.
Acton's work is a testament to his talent, patience, and dedication. His models are truly breathtaking, and they are a must-see for anyone visiting Iowa.
