Museum Outreach & Promotional Venues

EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.  Educating the public about nutcrackers is our foremost goal and this begins in the museum with the many nutcracker displays.  To capture the interest of the visitors, the collection of nutcrackers is presented in many ways, by history, by use, by materials, by maker, by story line, by occupations, by holidays and by the  different hobbies of the guests themselves.  We have many lower shelves especially for the interest of the young ones for we know that they will love the nutcrackers and  ask their parents to bring them back again and again. 

DISPLAYS SENT TO OTHER MUSEUMS AND ORGANIZATIONS  Each year 1 or 2 displays of  nutcrackers are sent to museums or organizations for the holiday season.  These go out the first of October and are returned in January.    These displays are  prepared with about 50 nutcrackers of various ages, styles  and materials.    The museum has sent displays to Lipscomb University in Tennessee, Museum of Russian Icons in Massachusetts, Historic Odessa Foundation in Delaware, Paine Art Center in Wisconsin, Cowlitz County Historical Museum in Washington, and to many other places in the US.  Displays have even been sent as far away as Hong Kong and Shanghai. Click here for more information

POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS FOR STUDENTS  Text for the presenter is included and can be sent and used by teachers throughout the US. These are done as educational presentations for primary and middle school grades.

If these are given in-house, we will have actual nutcrackers that can be handled by students, some from the presentation, and others.  We also have inserted pictures of interesting and fun nutcrackers at the end of the educational section that can be used at the discretion of the teacher.

PLANNED PRESENTATIONS FOR GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS—IN-HOUSE AND TRAVEL.  Our 17-minute introductory video is used primarily for visiting  groups,  and if requested we will provide hands-on nutcracker demonstrations.  We also have various other videos and presentations that are done with narration by a museum staff member,  and these can be done both in-house and at various locations for senior citizens and other civic groups.

ONLINE PRESENCE.  The museum online website  www.nutcrackermuseum.com   gives much information about the museum itself as well as the history and nutritional value of nuts, the history of the nutcrackers, and information about the various nutcrackers.  Another website  is devoted to our  younger readers www.KidsLoveNutcrackers   with various ‘lessons’  on nutcracker topics and different activities for children.

WORK WITH THE NUTCRACKER COLLECTOR CLUB.  The museum curator works hand in hand with other members of the Collector Club to provide and share information about antique nutcrackers.  Members come from all parts of the US, Canada, England, Germany, Norway, Lithuania, and Australia.  A yearly convention brings them together, and the museum has hosted this group three times.   More Information

COOPERATION WITH THE GERMAN MUSEUM.  Our museum has a strong relationship with the Löschner family of the Erstes Nussknackermuseum Europa located in the Erzgebirge.  Exchange of nutcracker knowledge flows freely between the Nutcracker Lady and Uwe Löschner as they have been friends for over 30 years.

BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE MUSEUM.  There have been several books published by the museum:

 “The Art & Character of Nutcrackers”, a hard-cover award-winning coffee table book featuring about 1000 nutcrackers and emphasizing the antiques that is prized by collectors all over the world.

“An Addendum to The Art & Character of Nutcrackers”, a hard-cover book showing additional museum nutcrackers.

“The Nutcracker Lady’s Introduction to Nutcrackers”,  a soft-cover book showing the various kinds of nutcrackers; the materials used, how they work, and their origin. This book is for upper grade students or adults.

“Kids Love Nutcrackers”, a soft cover 4 book series for children kindergarten thru primary grades.    

Many of the hard-cover books have been donated to libraries, teachers, veterans’ groups, and civic organizations.  Soft-cover books have been donated to various schools and given to teachers when visiting the museum. 

OTHER ARTICLES PRODUCED BY THE MUSEUM.  The museum has also researched and printed the production list of nutcrackers produced by the Steinbach family showing over 800 designs, a list coveted by collectors all over the US.  The museum also produced a nut recipe book which gave the history and nutritional value of the various nuts.   Many  articles and videos have been produced by the museum, including  a 17-minute introductory video for the museum. 

OUR MISSION STATEMENT: To foster and encourage the interest of the public of the importance of nuts in the diets of humans throughout history and in the evolution of the nutcracker.  No other tool or collectible has shown such a wide diversity of material and design ad the implements used to crack the hard shell of the nut.  

Updated: 09/12/22

 

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