Nutcracker Museum
Visit our Sister Sites at:
www.kidslovenutcrackers.com and
www.nutcrackerday.com
May 2018 Newsletter from The Nutcracker Lady
|
AN INTERESTING CONTEST FOR STUDENTS--- TIME FOR THE KIDS
TO GET CRACKIN!!! Saturday, July 7 is
Nutcracker Day, and time for the big contest for kids to make their
own instrument to crack a nut! And there will be prizes
too. Entries will be judged in 3 divisions: Grades 1-6, 7-9 and 10-12, based on the school year ending in 2018. You can send in an online entry form and be sure to read the contest rules. Last year, Olyn was the winner in the grades 1-6 division. He crafted a nutcracker hammer using a river rock which was used to pound a peg that cracked the nut. Here is a picture of his finished project, and a couple of pictures as he was working on it. 
 Amber Zimmerman of Leavenworth Sip and Paint used a river rock and piece of wood to create a delightful example of how a students can create their own nutcracker. 
 Amber’s nutcracker gives us an insight as to how the early inhabitants cracked the nuts—with stones. Later they developed simple wooden lever nutcrackers with two pieces of wood tied together with leather strings. Later the same method was used using a metal hinge. There are many different ways a nut can be cracked and here are several amateur nut openers. 
 A hammer makes a good nutcracker, and here are two examples that will give you an idea. A decorative hammer could be used with a wooden base like that in Amber Zimmerman’s creation. 
 Here is an example of dropping something heavy to crack a nut. The heavy wooden block, drilled with two holes, slides down the dowels to break the shell of a nut, and the other device shows a metal ball dropped on a nut. 
 These nutcrackers show how a moveable lever mounted to a bowl or other container can crack a nut by applying pressure to the handle. 
 An ingenious tabletop nutcracker is made with shaped pieces of wood and small dowels. The handle swivels on one dowel while the others solidly hold the other pieces together. The second one uses screws instead of dowels. 
 The Penguin is made up of a thick center piece with thinner wood pieces attached. A metal hinge allows the head to be lifted to receive the nut. Note the indentations which hold the nut in place. 
 The long nosed gentleman is constructed like the Penguin above, with a thick center piece and a metal hinge to lift the head. This other penguin is made of rounded pieces, and also hinged at the head so the nose is lifted to crack the nut. The gentleman with mustache and hat is made of wooden dowels and other wooden pieces, and opens like the traditional Christmas nutcracker with a handle at the back. 
 Now you have seen many different ideas for students to make their own nut cracking device, so… KIDS--LETS GET CRACKING!!!!
Arlene Wagner,
The
Nutcracker Lady
|
07/23/21
Quick Links
Dogs that are able to be carried at all times may come into the museum.
Service animals are
always welcome.
Contact Us
735 Front Street
P.O. Box 2212
Leavenworth, WA 98826
(509) 548-4573
MUSEUM HOURS
11:00PM - 5:00PM Daily
We suggest visitors arrive at the museum at least 30 minutes before closing.
Nutcracker Museum Mission Statement:
"To foster and encourage the interest of the general 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 as the implements used to crack the hard shell of a nut".
Museum Admission:
Adults - $5.00 (Ages 17 - 64yrs)
Seniors - $3.50
(Age 65yrs +)
Youth - $2.00 (Ages 6 - 16yrs)
Child - FREE (Ages 0 - 5yrs)
Active
Military - FREE (Spouse & Children Free with ID)
