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.
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.
The Nutcracker Lady considers this to be one of the most important outreach we can do at the Nutcracker Museum.
Open Daily 11-5
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".
