Collector to Curator

Conan O’Brien invited her to be on his show. She’s appeared on the Food Network, the A&E Network and CBS’ Sunday Morning. She’s assembled large displays in Chicago, Minneapolis and Hong Kong. She gives power point presentations around the U.S. and Germany. She is the author of six books, numerous articles and produces a monthly newsletter. Who is this amazing person?

Meet Arlene Wagner, the Nutcracker Lady, who lovingly cares for nearly 7000 nutcrackers housed in a unique museum in Leavenworth, Washington. This museum is one of only two all-nutcracker museums in the world. The other is located in Neuhausen, Germany.

Mrs. Wagner began collecting nutcrackers forty years ago when she was a dance instructor in Renton. During the holidays when her students were performing the nutcracker ballet, she decorated her studio with nutcrackers. Each year she added more until there was no more room to display her collection.

Her love of nutcrackers led to a store in Renton named “Nussknacker Haus” and later another was opened in Bellevue Square. Vacationing in Leavenworth, she and her husband, George, found a store for sale and purchased it. The Wagners, having spent much time in Germany, felt right at home in this Bavarian Village. In 1985, they became full-time residents and opened their store specializing in German collectibles and woodcrafts.

When purchasing nutcrackers for the store, Arlene became excited about the hundreds of unique designs available and the idea for a nutcracker museum began to emerge. She wanted to share the beauty and workmanship of nutcrackers with the public. George told her if they could earn enough at the store to pay rent for the upstairs space, she could open a nutcracker museum.

Arlene began researching nutcrackers and discovered that early humans used nutting stones to crack the hard shell of the nuts they gathered. She found that throughout the centuries, nutcrackers have been made of wood, porcelain, ivory, stone and various metals. The Wagners decided their collection would include all types of nutcrackers and they searched the world for unique examples. Antique dealers from various countries, aware of their quest, contacted them whenever they found a unique piece.

In 1995, her dream came true. She and her husband opened the nutcracker museum in Leavenworth.

In 2000, they donated all the nutcrackers and the building housing them to the National Heritage Foundation, an umbrella for small non-profit foundations. They wanted to be sure their collection could be enjoyed by generations to come. Later, the nutcrackers and building were transferred to The Leavenworth Museum, a non-profit 501(c)3 foundation. Arlene was appointed curator by the board of directors.

With official non-profit status, other collectors have donated nutcrackers to the museum, making it the largest collection of nut cracking devices in the world and one of Leavenworth’s most popular tourist attractions.

Next time you visit Leavenworth, stop to say hello to the Nutcracker Lady at the Nutcracker Museum. You’ll find her dressed in a beautiful dirndl she made herself or one she brought home from Austria or Switzerland. When I asked if she wanted to share her age, she replied “I am 91 and ¾-years-old. At my age, you celebrate each step.”

She may be 91, but don’t try to race Arlene on the stairs of her building. She hikes up and down two long flights of stairs four or five times a day with the energy of a teenager.

Arlene Wagner: collector, curator, author, speaker and amazing woman.

MORE INFORMATION

The Nutcracker Museum is located at 735 Front Street in Leavenworth. Hours: 1-5pm daily, May-October; hours vary November-April. 509-548-4573. www.nutcrackermuseum.com

Arlene Wagner’s books include The Art & Character of Nutcrackers; The Nutcracker Lady’s Introduction to Nutcrackers, Kids Love Nutcrackers; the I Love Nuts recipe book and Production List of Steinbach.