It started with a model of Newcastle Railway Station in 1899.
Then came a puppetry collection, small-scale trains, and miniature boats.
A tiny snapshot of the city's stories will be on display at the Newcastle Museum with its new exhibit, Model Newcastle.
Museum director Julie Baird said the exhibition developed from the idea that little things tell big stories.
"I want to encourage people to come out and see their own stories," she said.
"We really wanted to find a way to tell Newcastle stories in a completely different way."
The exhibit opens on Saturday, September 27, and features items from the Museum's collection and creations on loan from the community.
"Models and miniatures are tiny worlds with big purposes that can explore the past, imagine the future, and transport us anywhere in between," Ms Baird said.
She said visitors could see historical replicas to imaginative creations as well as an interactive display.
"It's not just a stand and see exhibition," she said.
As well as featuring historical Newcastle, Ms Baird said the models celebrated Newcastle creatives.
"I think we don't celebrate ourselves enough, and so this is a really nice opportunity for us to celebrate all the wonderful eras and times," she said.
Spread out across two rooms, the exhibition has collections that reflect five key themes.
Views of the City features models of Newcastle of the past, including a model of the former Newcastle Workers' Club, used during the coronial inquest into the 1989 earthquake.
In the Modelling Imagination section, there's a mechanical fish tank created by former Newcastle Herald cartoonist Peter Lewis and a set of marionettes from performer Murray Raine.
As part of the Scale Engineering display, visitors can watch one the locomotive creations of the Lake Macquarie Live Steamers Association, while at the On the Water display they can take in model ships, boats, and tugboats.
This section also features a model of the sailing ship, the Cutty Sark, which was built over 40 years by Peter Sharp.
Big Skills Miniaturised features the museum's collection of apprentice pieces and demonstrator models.
At the back of the exhibit, a post-apocalyptic model created by Jack McGrath and the University of Newcastle for the film Beyond Earth gives visitors a chance to learn about filmmaking techniques.
Lord mayor Ross Kerridge said the exhibition captured the stories of Newcastle's past, present, and future.
"While many spring simply from the joy and creativity of their makers, others have a more practical or serious purpose, such as the Sugar Babe doll that helped to teach children with diabetes how to inject insulin and was used at the John Hunter Hospital," he said.
The exhibit will run until February 2026. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for concession, $5 for children aged five to 16. with children four and under free. Family tickets for two adults and two children are $25.