Arlene george and arlene wagner founded the leavenworth nutcracker museum in 1995. Nutcrackers have been collected, handed down for decades. The museum became a nonprofit 501c3 foundation and others have donated nutcrackers, and now it contains over 7000 specimens, probably the worlds largest collection of nut. Art and character of nutcrackers wagner, arlene, leavenworth nutcracker museum on. The museum became a nonprofit 501c3 foundation and others have donated nutcrackers, and now it contains over 6000 specimens, probably the worlds largest collection of nutopening devices. This is written by the nutcracker lady, arlene wagner, and makes a great conversation piece for your coffee table.
Arlene wagner, the nutcracker lady leavenworth nutcracker museum. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake. George and arlene wagner founded the museum in 1995 by donating the building, which was home to their large personal collection. Visit the wold famous leavenworth nutcracker museum on your next visit to leavenworth washington. The fascinating leavenworth nutcracker museum contains more than 6,000 tools. She taught multiple productions of the nutcracker, and became enamored of.
A german language website further reading there is little published material dedicated purely to nutcrackers, these books are all currently out of print. Adolf heidenreich to visit leavenworth nutcracker museum. In a nutshell, you could say that arlene and george wagner, of leavenworth, wash. Join facebook to connect with arlene wagner and others you may know. The leavenworth nutcracker museum was founded in 1995 by george and arlene wagner who donated their huge nutcracker collection and the building in. She taught multiple productions of the nutcracker, and became enamored of nutcrackers. The museum became a nonprofit 501c3 foundation and others have donated nutcrackers, and now it contains over 7000 specimens, the worlds largest collection. Curator at the leavenworth nutcracker museum in leavenworth, washington. Although woodworkers made nutcrackers of many character shapes. Arlene continues to work at the museum as curator and museum. It is crafted of wood with a face of paper mache, another product for which the area is famous. At this world famous nutcracker museum in leavenworth, people go nuts for nutcrackers. Everyone was very friendly and i enjoyed the young production staff. Courtesy of leavenworth nutcracker museum facebook.
The museum opened its doors in 1995 as a private showing of the immense nutcracker collection of george and arlene wagner, and soon after that a washington state nonprofit corporation was formed. The much anticipated first show went especially well and arlene had this to say about her first guest experience. The leavenworth nutcracker museum s curator arlene wagner was honored to be conan obrians first guest on monday night. There are suggestions below for improving the article. Her name is arlene wagner and shes known globally as the nutcracker lady.
The museum became a nonprofit 501c3 foundation and others have donated nutcrackers, and now it contains over 7000 specimens, probably the worlds. From their green spring blooms to their vibrant fall foliage, the natural scenery here is always incredible. One will find many a dropped jaw in the leavenworth nutcracker museum in leavenworth, wash. As unique as the town it resides in, the nutcracker museum offers video presentations, tours, and areas to shop. Leavenworth nutcracker museum leavenworth, washington. The leavenbworth nutcracker museum opened its doors in 1995. Most were made of iron, but some were made of brass or silver, allowing for more intricate detail. The leavenworth nutcracker museum was founded in 1995 by george and arlene wagner. The art and character of nutcrackers book by arlene wagner. Owned and operated by arlene wagner, a former ballet teacher who produced the nutcracker ballet for many years, she and her husband george have traveled the world over. June 2016 newsletter from the nutcracker museum in leavenworth. Probably the nutcracker ballet is the primary reason the nutcracker has continued to be popular, says arlene wagner, curator of the leavenworth nutcracker museum in leavenworth, washington. It once pried open treasures for the great and mighty of roman civilization.
Conans first guest the curator of a nutcracker museum. The nutcracker is large in size, measuring about 15 inches including the base. Carved by karl rappl of oberammergau, a sixfoot beerdrinking bavarian nutcracker. Wagner had produced the famous nutcracker ballet for many years, and just as. About the museum the leavenworth nutcracker museum was founded in 1995 by george and arlene wagner who donated their huge nutcracker collection and the building in which it is housed. In 1995 the wagner s donated their collection to the leavenworth nutcracker museum, so that it would be enjoyed by many people for generations to come. Here in leavenworth, washington, a bavarianthemed village. There is so much to learn about nutcrackers, not only about the familiar wooden toy soldier nutcracker but the many different tools men have devised to open the shell of the nut. Today, many specimens exitst that can truly be called. During the last 40 years, the wagners, both 84, have amassed more than 5,000 nutcrackers from 47 countriesone of the largest and finest collections of its kind in the worldwhich they display at their leavenworth nutcracker museum. The first nutcrackers were undoubtedly hammers or simple utilitarian designs, probably two pieces of wood hinged at one end with leather straps. The museum started with just a shop space on the second level of a commercial building occupied by two other independent businesses.
Because of her extensive knowledge one writer called arlene the nutcracker lady and so she has been ever since. Leavenworth nutcracker museum wikipedia republished. Arlene, 94, first started collecting nutcrackers with her late husband, george. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket. Nutcracker museum leavenworth, washington a unique. Dont miss leavenworths hidden gem, the nutcracker museum 735 front st. According to the museum s website, wagner is a former ballet teacher who produced the nutcracker ballet for many years, and just as clara in the ballet became entranced with. Nm about us leavenworth washingtons nutcracker museum. Japanese samurai elisabetta farnese king louis xiv of france nutting stones slave in chains.
Nm the leavenworth nutcracker museum antique nutcrackers. In 1995, she and her husband, george, opened the museum. The art and character of nutcrackers by arlene wagner. Arlene and husband george put on the nutcracker ballet. Leavenworth nutcracker museum washington state tours. According to arlene wagner of the nutcracker museum, nutcracker soldiers were made in the erzgebirge region of germany around 1800.
Founded by arlene wagner and her husband george in 1995, the museum housed over 6,000 nutcrackers in 2010. Her passion for nutcrackers started in the 1980s when she was a dance teacher. Children are welcomed and encouraged at the museum, although due to concerns about allergies, they can only test out the nutcrackers on nutcracker day, which takes place each july. So that is why i began this website, so children could learn more about the fascinating world of nutcrackers. The leavenworth nutcracker museum is honored to announce the visit of adolf heidenreich in september. Beyond visions of sugarplum fairies and wooden men wi. Nm slave in chains at the leavenworth nutcracker museum. In all, more than 7,000 nutcrackers make up the collection, according to museum founder arlene wagner, housed at a small space in downtown leavenworth, washington a bavarian theme town in the. The magical place in washington where its christmas year. Nutcracker museum the wagners collection, currently estimated at over four thousand pieces, is believed to be the largest privately owned nutcracker collection in the world. Today at nearly 94 years old, arlene runs the museum. Collecting nutcrackers explore the nutcracker tradition. Leavenworth nutcracker museum is a museum dedicated to nutcrackers, located in leavenworth, washington. The museum became a nonprofit 501 c3 foundation and others have donated nutcrackers, and now it contains over 7000 specimens, probably the worlds largest collection of nutopening devices.
The wagners collection was inspired by the classic christmas time nutcracker ballet. View the profiles of professionals named arlene wagner on linkedin. In 1995 she started the nutcracker museum in leavenworth, washington when she donat. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. Leavenworth to leavenworth nutcracker museum one way to. The magical place in washington where its christmas yearround.
Arlene started collecting nutcrackers in the 1970s. Arlene and george wagner of leavenworth started collecting nutcrackers in the 1970s and amassed a collection large enough to fill the 3,000squarefoot museum which they founded in 1995. She and her husband george have been collecting nutcrackers ever since. The earliest sonneberg nutcracker in the museum is a figure of napoleon which dates to 1820. Meet the staff at the leavenworth nutcracker museum. The leavenworth nutcracker museum, a national heritage foundation by arlene wagner 2005, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Arlene wagner, who cofounded the nutcracker museum. Pennsylvania, shawnee on delaware, rhode island, newport, south. About the author arlene wagner became interested in nutcrackers in the late 1960s when she purchased some for her dance studio. The leavenworth nutcracker museum was founded in 1995 by george and arlene wagner who donated their huge nutcracker collection and the building in which it is housed. Ardoria studios, leavenworth nutcracker museum, mitt romney, freedomworks, dziadek do orzechow nutcracker nussknacker. Dressed in a traditional bavarian dirndl, arlene wagner greets visitors with a smile. There are 2 ways to get from leavenworth to leavenworth nutcracker museum by car or foot.
Leavenworth online news leavenworth washingtons online. It is on loan to the museum from the private collection of arlene wagner. Adolf heidenreich to visit leavenworth nutcracker museum the. It includes an almost complete collection of the steinbach line, as well as thousands of other pieces from more than half a dozen other prominent manufacturers. Housed in the leavenworth nutcracker museum, which is also a national heritage foundation site, the wagners collection is on display to the public. Enter the nutcracker museum and you are amazed at the vast amount of nutcrackers being shown. Arlene wagner, the grandmotherly curator in the bavarian dress known. Leavenworth nutcracker museum was a social sciences and society good articles nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. The museum was opened in 1995 by arlene wagner, a former ballet teacher, and her husband george. Arlene wagner the leavenworth nutcracker museum is honored to announce the visit of adolf heidenreich in september. In his book nutcrackers shape and history heidenreich traces their chronological development from.
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