The Economic Times

In 1925, 10,000 Missouri schoolchildren built a miniature city with 1,200 buildings that helped boost homebuilding across Springfield

In 1925, Springfield schoolchildren constructed a miniature city for a promotional campaign. This ambitious project featured 1,200 tiny buildings and real utilities. Students actively participated in governing the miniature town, gaining civic experience. The Tiny Town exhibit successfully boosted local home construction permits significantly. Many miniature homes were later sold, and winning entries became store displays.