A collection of nutcrackers from around the world fills room after room in a quiet small town museum. I walked through the doors and found myself surrounded by rows of wooden soldiers and kings and curious characters with their mouths wide open.
Minnesota has a spot with over seven thousand nutcrackers representing fifty different countries and countless hours of careful collecting. The pieces range from tiny delicate carvings to life sized figures that stare down at you from their display spots.
I found nutcrackers shaped like astronauts and fishermen and even one that looked exactly like a famous scientist with wild white hair. Minnesota really hides an unexpected treasure where the sheer number and variety will make your head spin in the best way…