The Complete Production List of Architectural Building Replicas Produced by Microcosms

I thought it would be helpful for collectors if I published a complete list of Microcosms-produced replicas with information and photographs. I gathered the information I had, and then contacted Anton Tremblay, owner and creative mind behind the Microcosms souvenir buildings. Anton was very gracious and shared invaluable information. As an experienced production designer, special effects producer, art director and illustrator for film, television, commercials, print and more, Anton won an Emmy Award in 1990 for special effects art direction on the TV movie, Miracle Landing. He  first started collecting souvenir buildings, but couldn't find replicas of Los Angeles landmarks. So, he began producing his own miniature metal building models under the name Microcosms. I also asked him for a little background about the Microcosms architectural replicas. “I began casting in 1996, the Griffith Observatory was my first piece, L.A. City Hall my second,” Anton said.  “What started as a hobby became a bit overwhelming over the years as souvenir-building collecting became more popular and the demand for my pieces grew. More casting companies appeared and, admittedly, I lost interest in doing all the volume casting work and eventually scaled back to just the occasional bronze pieces.” Did you know Anton only produced two non-building replica?  It’s the Prometheus Statue at Rockefeller Center in New York and a flying pig. You can find his current bronze Architectural Replicas on his website. SBCS members visited his home and studio during the 2009 convention. The best ways to identify an architectural replica made by Microcosms include: weight (most are solid metal and heavy), the distinctive angled base, and the sticker label on the bottom (if it has one). Thanks to Anton for completing this list and thanks to Steve V. for some of the photos. Do you have photos of replicas that are missing here? Send the photos to me and I'll add them to this post. Below is the list of 54 replicas (a few have variations (materials and finishes) which are not included in this total number) with production date, if known, and the approximate quantity (Qt.) for each.

GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY, Los Angeles, California 1996 QT. 125 in pewter

LA CITY HALL, Los Angeles, California 1996

Qt. 100+ in pewter plus 6 in bronze on marble base  (One given to Mayor Riordan as a pen and pencil set on marble base)

LA CENTRAL LIBRARY, Los Angeles, California

Qt. 75 pewter

LIBRARY TOWER, formerly the First Interstate Bank World Center and now the US Bank Tower.   Qt. 75 pewter

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RESTAURANT (LAX) Qt. 50 pewter with nickel plate made in 2000

ST. VIBIANA, Los Angeles, California

Qt. 70 made in pewter

CAPITOL RECORDS, Los Angeles, California

QT. 100+ with slanted base, 1000 with straight base

ENNIS HOUSE, Los Angeles, California

Qt. 25+ in pewter, 6 in bronze on Teak base.

STORER HOUSE, Los Angeles, California

Qt. 4 in bronze on teak base.

VILLA FLORES, Los Angeles, California

Qt. 30 in pewter

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH PARK, Irvine, California

Qt. 40 in pewter

DISNEY CONCERT HALL, Los Angeles, California

Qt. 1  Painted pattern made but never cast, too complex and expensive to cast 

MARRIOTT  TOWERS (Book Ends), San Diego, California Qt. 10 sets in pewter plated in Gold or Nickel

TRANSAMERICA, San Francisco, 
California   Qt. 75+ pewter

COIT TOWER, San Francisco, California

Qt. 75 pewter (no plating)

Made for the 2002 SBCS convention 4" tall.

SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT TERMINAL

QT. 75 pewter

RCA ROCKEFELLER CENTER, New York

Qt. 125 pewter, 4 bronze

FLAT IRON, New York

Qt. 125 pewter, 6 bronze on marble base

Finished in silver, copper & bonze on marble

NY LIFE BUILDING, New York

Qt. 90 pewter

LIPSTICK BUILDING, New York

Qt. 60 pewter

NEW YORK CENTRAL BUILDING, New York

Renamed Helmsley Building   Qt. 75 pewter

SINGER BUILDING, New York

Qt. 75 pewter, 10 with metal flags added)

CHRYSLER BUILDING, New York

Qt. 140 pewter

WORLD TRADE CENTER, New York

Qt, 75 made for fundraiser

WOOLWORTH BUILDING, New York

Qt. 90 pewter, 4 bronze

PROMETHEUS STATUE at Rockefeller Center, New York Qt. 75 in pewter with gold plating, 12 in bronze on marble base with gold plating. Some with single and double marble bases. This was made for a giveaway for Byrnam Woods in N.Y.

TRIBUNE TOWER, Chicago

Qt. 75 pewter

 333 WEST WACKER DRIVE in Chicago  Qt. 75

OCTAGON HOUSE (AIA Head Quarters museum) in Washington, D.C.  Qt. 75 in pewter

UNION STATION, Nashville, Tennessee   c. 2000

Qt. 100 Pewter, 2 bronze made for 100-year anniversary

WACHOVIA CENTER, North Carolina (Pattern provided) Qt. 30

TOWER OF LONDON

Qt. 25 in pewter, 6 as jewelry boxes with removable top and felt lining. 6 in bronze with marble base.

PANTHEON, Rome, Italy

Qt. 50 pewter, 10 bronze with marble base

QUETZALCOATL PYRAMID, Mexico

Qt. 60 pewter, 6 bronze on marble base

PORCH OF THE ERECHTHEUM, Greece

Qt. 4 bronze on large marble base

(No photo yet)

BANK OF CHINA, Hong Kong

Qt. 75 pewter

PETRONAS TOWERS, Malaysia

Qt. 45 pewter with nickel plate. (4 sold to the architect)

BOSTON CONVENTION CENTER, Massachusetts 2002 Qt. 30  (2-D Ruler, 12” long) Made for the topping out ceremony

(No photo yet)

ROTH CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE Hanover, New Hampshire.  Qt. about 40-50 pieces were made for a 1997 dedication

TOWERING INFERNO, from movie

QT. 25   Nine inches tall with a marble base and logo plate

PSYCHO HOUSE, from Alfred Hitchcock movie

Qt. 75

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, Australia

Qt. 25 pewter

ANKOR WAT, Cambodia

Qt. 4 bronze

(No photo yet)

PADOVA, Italy

Qt. 3 bronze

(No photo yet)

DISNEY ANIMATION, Burbank, California

Qt. 2 pewter

TOWER OF JEWELS, San Francisco, California

Qt. 8 bronze

(No photo yet)

ELEPHANT TOWER, from 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco

Qt. 2 bronze

(No photo yet)

TEMPLE OF THE GIANT JAGUAR in Tikal, Guatemala Qt. 75 pewter, 6 bronze on marble base in 1995 (above left)

GREAT PYRAMID of KHAFRA, Egypt

Qt. 40+ pewter, 10 bronze (above center)

GREAT MOSQUE OF SAMARRA, Iraq

Qt. 25 pewter, 4 bronze on marble base (above right)

LYSICRATES MONUMENT, Greece

Qt. 6 bronze on marble base (above left)

TEMPLE OF VESPASIAN, Italy

Qt. 10 bronze on two color marble base (above center)

LONDON FIRE MONUMENT, England

Qt. 6 bronze on marble base 11 inches tall (above right)