Luverne, Minnesota, is now home to the world’s tallest nutcracker, Verne the Patriot, standing at 65 feet and 7 1/2 inches tall. The massive nutcracker, decked out like Uncle Sam, has a working jaw and was unveiled in a weekend ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Local Collector’s Vision
The idea for the giant nutcracker originated from a local collector, Betty Mann, who started collecting nutcrackers after her daughter and husband passed away in 2001. Mann’s collection eventually grew to over 2,500 nutcrackers, which she donated to the town’s historical society in 2016.
Today, Luverne’s collection has expanded to 7,554 nutcrackers, outnumbering the town’s roughly 5,000 residents. The city committee came up with the idea of building the world’s tallest nutcracker, and Verne was conceived. The nutcracker was several years in the making, with the pieces crafted in Utah and assembled in Luverne.
Tourism Boost
The unveiling of Verne the Patriot has already started to attract tourists to the small town. Since the nutcracker was completed in mid-June, customers have quadrupled at the local rock shop, Those Blasted Things, and other businesses have reported more traffic as well.
Luverne’s goal is to have something unique that will draw people to the town, and Verne the Patriot is certainly an attention-grabber. The town also hosts a Nutcracker Fest every summer, making it a year-round destination for nutcracker enthusiasts.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
