The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, located in Leavenworth, Washington, contains over 9,000 handcrafted nutcrackers. The collection includes items dating back to at least 200 AD, establishing it as the largest nutcracker collection in the United States.
Arlene Wagner, who recently observed her 101st birthday, manages the museum. She is frequently present at the museum's entrance, often dressed in a traditional German dirndl.
Collection Genesis
Wagner began the collection in 1976 while serving as the director of a ballet company in Renton, Washington. During preparations for a production of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker," she acquired the initial nutcrackers for the protagonist Clara.
Initially, the collection focused on toy soldier-style nutcrackers. However, after attending an antique show with her late husband, George Wagner, their interest expanded to include porcelain and metal designs. The couple actively acquired nut-cracking devices through estate sales, auctions, and trips to Europe. Their acquisitions included traditional "nussknackers" with hinged mouths, lever-style designs resembling pliers, and screw-mechanism crushers. They also collected ornate metal betel cutters from India, tools carved from bone and tusks, and primitive stone "nutting bowls."
The Wagners' travel was primarily dedicated to expanding their collection. By 1995, the collection reached 7,000 items, leading them to open the museum that year to display it publicly.
Milestones and Notable Items
In September 2021, Arlene Wagner achieved a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of nutcrackers, totaling 9,103 unique devices. This record was subsequently surpassed by a Lithuanian collector with 10,000 nutcrackers a few months later.
The museum's interior features custom-made display cases that house nutcrackers from 50 countries, spanning two millennia. Among the oldest items is a bronze device, forged between 200 B.C. and 200 A.D., which was unearthed in the 1960s between Rome and Naples. This 12-inch tool features lion designs, suggesting it belonged to a wealthy ancient Roman household.
Another notable piece is a lever-style nutcracker from France, made of boxwood, approximately 8 inches long. It depicts the bust of a man wearing a laurel wreath and bears the date 1554, making it the earliest known dated nutcracker globally.
A section of the museum's first floor displays nutcrackers themed around various American holidays, including New Year, Valentine's Day, and Cinco de Mayo.
Cultural Significance of Nutcrackers
Leavenworth's Bavarian-themed environment attracts tourists, with the nutcracker museum and its gift shop serving as a key attraction.
Nutcrackers have served as household items for thousands of years due to their utility. The 1816 publication of "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by German author E.T.A. Hoffman contributed to the popularity of toy soldiers and other figures from the book, particularly in Germany. A film produced by Wagner indicates that before the book, nutcrackers, often shaped as kings and soldiers, were believed to bring good luck and ward off evil. They were commonly exchanged as gifts during the autumn harvest season and included in Christmas stockings.
Following World War II, larger toy soldier nutcrackers gained popularity in the United States. Steinbach, a German nutcracker manufacturer, capitalized on this by selling brightly painted toys to American soldiers stationed in Hanover, Germany, as souvenirs. Steinbach currently produces 30,000 to 40,000 nutcrackers annually, with approximately 90% sold in the U.S.
George Balanchine's ballet version of "The Nutcracker," which premiered at the New York City Ballet in 1954, further established the nutcracker's association with Christmas among American audiences through its productions and tours.
Current Operations
Arlene Wagner works approximately four hours daily at the museum. Michelle McMullen, who has worked alongside Wagner for several years, is currently in training to assume management responsibilities.
A 10-inch hand-carved replica of Arlene Wagner, crafted by German artisans and including details such as white hair and a pearl necklace, is now available for sale.