SURPRISE!!!
There is no tool or collectible made in as many designs or materials as the
nutcracker, and the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum shows over 9000 different
specimens. Here are some that truly surprise our visitors.
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Napoleon is the oldest wooden toy soldier nutcracker in the museum, created in 1820 at Sonneberg and surprisingly has a face sculpted of paper mache'. |
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A pyramid showing 3 tiny nutcrackers spinning in a walnut shell is a gift from the Loechner family of the Nussknacker Museum in Germany. |
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This “Merman”, the counterpart of the mythical “Mermaid”, was carved of boxwood in the 17th Century. Yes, the men are definitely surprised! |
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The Lion is the symbol of strength and the snake as evil, so this carved 15th century nutcracker depicts a strong King who protects his people. |
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An interesting and amusing metal nutcracker gifted by Jan Pielock of Poland, shows 2 men together with a combined total of only 2 feet. |
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This Flemish lever nutcracker is made of bronze and features a brave dog on the back of a reptile. It was made in the 15th or 16th centuries |
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The oldest wood screw in the museum is dated 1631. Although the screw mechanism was invented in the 4th century BC it is surprising that it was not utilized in the making of nutcrackers until the 17th century AD. |
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We celebrate Christmas all year with a permanent tree of nutcrackers on the wall, copied from a display created by a German collector. |
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Christian Ulbricht crafted this tree for the museum, carving each frond independently. It was gifted to the museum on its 10th anniversary. |
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Fruit knives of silver were popular in the Gilded Age of the 90’s when socialite men carried one in their pockets. All in this collection of George Wagner will contain a nutpick |
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The carvers of Italy’s Groeden Valley surprised us with nutcrackers whose blue eyes change to brown as the nut is cracked. |
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We learned about nut openers in the Metalworks Museum in Rouan, France and were surprised to learn this one in the museum is from the 1st century |
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Did you ever draw Kilroy? He became a hero of World War II appearing on countless ships, jeeps, cannons, and many buildings all over Europe. |
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A young man created this nutcracker for our “GO A LITTLE NUTTY” contest, presenting it to the judges while wearing a Cook’s apron and hat. |
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We teach about nuts and Children are surprised to see the pod of the Brazil nuts and learn why this nut is shaped like an orange segment |
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These ancient walnuts were carved by Asian Monks and when looking closely, visitors are surprised to see human faces on many of them. |
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Black Walnuts have such a tough shell that they require especially strong nutcrackers, however these sturdy shells make delightful nut bowls. |
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It is always a surprise to find that even the most expensive Betel Cuter will have the traditional iron blade, even if rusted. |
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The 12 men who judged our Pecan Pie contest unanimously chose Zee Pape’s recipe with its surprise ingredient. See the recipe in the museum and on https://nutcrackermuseum.com/recipes10.html . |
Monday - Saturday 11-5pm
Sunday - 11-4:30pm
We suggest visitors arrive at least 30 minutes before closing.
"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".
Nutcracker
Museum