Nutcracker Museum

TAKE A TOUR WITH ME…We are so proud of our newly remodeled museum and want everyone to see it, so come along with me as I love to show it off.

At the entrance, Karl, our mascot, greets you from a life size poster. Karl himself is waiting anxiously at the back of the museum where there is plenty of room for you to have your photo taken with him.

Entering the aisle at Karl’s left you will see many antique nutcrackers dating back to Roman times.  There are both lever and screw types shown in a variety of metals and woods. You will find a Napoleon made in Sonneberg in 1820, a 16^th century King with a bird atop his head, and an intricately carved screw dated 1631.

To Karl’s right is the viewing room with the introductory video playing continually.  You will also see a short History of nutcrackers displayed attractively on wall panels, and a case with nutcrackers depicting the traditional Erzgebirge miner’s band.

Past the entrance to the viewing room you will see Paul, the massive Petersen nutcracker standing regally as he guards the magnificent stairway that leads to the second level. Looking to the back past Paul, you will get a glimpse of the children’s section and the 14 foot wall of Santa figures by Christian Steinbach and Christian Ulbricht. 

Around the corner of the wall of Santas a second wall of nearly 50 feet representing various national holidays and many festivals and activities found in our Bavarian Village. Here you will see nutcrackers representing Autumn Leaf Festival, Oktoberfest, Ice Fest, the Fourth of July, Maifest, Christkindl Markt,  Summer Theater, Chef Fest, and even the popular Reindeer Farm.

Follow me for there is much more to see as we ascend the stairs to the second level.  Designed by Christina Zucktriegel, Gary Pinckney, and Rusty Gibbs, this magnificent  stairway  truly adds to the ambiance of the museum.

These striking banners and others throughout the museum show interesting museum specimens, and were donated to the museum by Lipscomb University of Nashville, Tennesee.  In this picture, looking at the case to the right, notice the brown clad Hitler on the left in the top row.  This was carved in Sonneberg, Germany in 1938.

Other cases in the upper level display screw type nutcrackers in metal, wood, porcelain, ivory and even rhinoceros horn.   You will see nutcrackers from 4 generations of the Ulbricht family, a nutcracker carved on the end of a matchstick,  King Tut, and Star Wars figures.  Preschoolers will find a seal to complete their nutcracker hunt.

As we descend the stairs we are met with a display of betel cutters from India and neighboring countries.  Beside this case is one of nutting stones dating back to the Archaic period (8000BC  to 2000BC).  In another case nearby you will find nutting stones from the Sahara Desert, during the ancient time when it was lush and green.

There is so much to see in the Nutcracker Museum, and I hope you will come and tour it with me when the Nutcracker Museum reopens. 

Please watch our website and Facebook page for COVID-19 updates.

Arlene Wagner, The Nutcracker Lady

Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum
Email: curator@nutcrackermuseum.com