Nutcrackers have been collected, handed down for decades. Leavenworth nutcracker museum washington state tours. 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. The museum became a nonprofit 501c3 foundation and others have donated nutcrackers, and now it contains over 7000 specimens, the worlds largest collection. A german language website further reading there is little published material dedicated purely to nutcrackers, these books are all currently out of print. The museum was opened in 1995 by arlene wagner, a former ballet teacher, and her husband george. Nm the leavenworth nutcracker museum antique nutcrackers. So that is why i began this website, so children could learn more about the fascinating world of nutcrackers. View the profiles of professionals named arlene wagner on linkedin. Curator at the leavenworth nutcracker museum in leavenworth, washington. The leavenworth nutcracker museum s curator arlene wagner was honored to be conan obrians first guest on monday night.
About the author arlene wagner became interested in nutcrackers in the late 1960s when she purchased some for her dance studio. Leavenworth to leavenworth nutcracker museum one way to. Nm slave in chains at the leavenworth nutcracker museum. Most were made of iron, but some were made of brass or silver, allowing for more intricate detail. Arlene george and arlene wagner founded the leavenworth nutcracker museum in 1995. In 1995, she and her husband, george, opened the museum.
There are 2 ways to get from leavenworth to leavenworth nutcracker museum by car or foot. Housed in the leavenworth nutcracker museum, which is also a national heritage foundation site, the wagners collection is on display to the public. Here in leavenworth, washington, a bavarianthemed village. Founded by arlene wagner and her husband george in 1995, the museum housed over 6,000 nutcrackers in 2010. Because of her extensive knowledge one writer called arlene the nutcracker lady and so she has been ever since. Leavenworth nutcracker museum wikipedia republished. There are suggestions below for improving the article. Once these issues have been addressed, the article can be renominated. 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.
Leavenworth nutcracker museum is a museum dedicated to nutcrackers, located in leavenworth, washington. The art and character of nutcrackers by arlene wagner. Courtesy of leavenworth nutcracker museum facebook. Arlene wagner, the nutcracker lady leavenworth nutcracker museum. Visit the wold famous leavenworth nutcracker museum on your next visit to leavenworth washington. The nutcracker is large in size, measuring about 15 inches including the base. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket.
Japanese samurai elisabetta farnese king louis xiv of france nutting stones slave in chains. In a nutshell, you could say that arlene and george wagner, of leavenworth, wash. Leavenworth online news leavenworth washingtons online. The museum became a nonprofit 501c3 foundation and others have donated nutcrackers, and now it contains over 7000 specimens, probably the worlds. Arlene started collecting nutcrackers in the 1970s. Her passion for nutcrackers started in the 1980s when she was a dance teacher. At this world famous nutcracker museum in leavenworth, people go nuts for nutcrackers. Wagner studied ballet under alexandra danilova, and subsequently became a ballet instructor. No place in washington celebrates all four seasons like leavenworth.
Today, many specimens exitst that can truly be called. George and arlene wagner founded the museum in 1995 by donating the building, which was home to their large personal collection. 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. Art and character of nutcrackers wagner, arlene, leavenworth nutcracker museum on. Wagner had produced the famous nutcracker ballet for many years, and just as. From their green spring blooms to their vibrant fall foliage, the natural scenery here is always incredible. Learn about the history of the leavenworth nutcracker 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.
It once pried open treasures for the great and mighty of roman civilization. One will find many a dropped jaw in the leavenworth nutcracker museum in leavenworth, wash. Conans first guest the curator of a nutcracker museum. Join facebook to connect with arlene wagner and others you may know. 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 is on loan to the museum from the private collection of arlene wagner. The earliest sonneberg nutcracker in the museum is a figure of napoleon which dates to 1820. 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. 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. The museum has been visited by over 44 states and 38 countries. The magical place in washington where its christmas year.
The art and character of nutcrackers book by arlene wagner. Carved by karl rappl of oberammergau, a sixfoot beerdrinking bavarian nutcracker. 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 wagners collection was inspired by the classic christmas time nutcracker ballet. The museum started with just a shop space on the second level of a commercial building occupied by two other independent businesses. The much anticipated first show went especially well and arlene had this to say about her first guest experience. Arlene wagner the leavenworth nutcracker museum is honored to announce the visit of adolf heidenreich in september. 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. The first nutcrackers were undoubtedly hammers or simple utilitarian designs, probably two pieces of wood hinged at one end with leather straps. The leavenworth nutcracker museum was founded in 1995 by george and arlene wagner. This is written by the nutcracker lady, arlene wagner, and makes a great conversation piece for your coffee table.
Although woodworkers made nutcrackers of many character shapes. Arlene, 94, first started collecting nutcrackers with her late husband, george. Arlene wagner, who cofounded the nutcracker museum. Arlene and husband george put on the nutcracker ballet. 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. Adolf heidenreich to visit leavenworth nutcracker museum. 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.
Leavenworth nutcracker museum was a social sciences and society good articles nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. In 1995 she started the nutcracker museum in leavenworth, washington when she donat. As unique as the town it resides in, the nutcracker museum offers video presentations, tours, and areas to shop. Dressed in a traditional bavarian dirndl, arlene wagner greets visitors with a smile. Meet the staff at the leavenworth nutcracker museum. It is crafted of wood with a face of paper mache, another product for which the area is famous. Arlene continues to work at the museum as curator and museum. 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.
Pennsylvania, shawnee on delaware, rhode island, newport, south. According to arlene wagner of the nutcracker museum, nutcracker soldiers were made in the erzgebirge region of germany around 1800. Collecting nutcrackers explore the nutcracker tradition. In fact, wagner, a former dance teacher, names the production as her impetus for starting the museum dedicated to the holiday figurine in 1995. Nutcracker museum leavenworth, washington a unique. June 2016 newsletter from the nutcracker museum in leavenworth. The fascinating leavenworth nutcracker museum contains more than 6,000 tools. 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.
Everyone was very friendly and i enjoyed the young production staff. She taught multiple productions of the nutcracker, and became enamored of nutcrackers. Arlene wagner, the grandmotherly curator in the bavarian dress known. Her name is arlene wagner and shes known globally as the nutcracker lady. The leavenworth nutcracker museum was founded in 1995 by george and arlene wagner who donated their huge nutcracker collection and the building in. Today at nearly 94 years old, arlene runs the museum. Adolf heidenreich to visit leavenworth nutcracker museum the. 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. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake. Nm about us leavenworth washingtons nutcracker museum. Dont miss leavenworths hidden gem, the nutcracker museum 735 front st. The leavenworth nutcracker museum, a national heritage foundation by arlene wagner 2005, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Leavenworth nutcracker museum leavenworth, washington. She taught multiple productions of the nutcracker, and became enamored of.
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