Welcome to Matchstick Marvels!
Open: Daily 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. from April 1 to November 30.
Closed: Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day. Open by appointment only from December 1 – March 31.
“Pat Acton is clearly the best matchstick model maker in North America. Quality-wise and skill-wise, he’s the best in the world.”
Edward Meyer, Former Vice President of Exhibits & Archives, Ripley’s Believe It or Not
For the past 49 years, Iowa artist Patrick Acton has glued over 10 million ordinary wooden matchsticks into 78 incredibly-detailed scale models of life-like sculptures, complex machines, and world-renowned architecture. Acton uses the tiny two-inch long sticks to build huge models, like his 9-foot tall model of Disney’s Cinderella Castle, 13-foot long true-to-scale model of the battleship USS Iowa, an 8-foot long model of the Notre Dame cathedral, and a 12-foot long model of the United States Capitol, which are all on display at Matchstick Marvels Tourist Center, 319 2nd Street, Gladbrook, Iowa, along with many other large models. The display has drawn visitors from all over the world.
Ripley’s Believe It of Not Entertainment Inc. has purchased dozens of Acton’s models for placement in their museums across Central and North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Fun Fact: Patrick cut off the heads of more than 100,000 matchsticks during the first 9 years of his hobby. In 1986 Patrick’s wife April implored him to inquire about buying wooden sticks before the sulfur tips were applied. Ohio Match Company responded positively and freed Patrick from the tedious job of cutting the heads off each matchstick.
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