Luverne, Minnesota, has unveiled Verne the Patriot, a 65-foot-7½-inch nutcracker with a working jaw that is nearly twice as tall as the nutcracker currently listed by Guinness World Records.
The Uncle Sam-inspired figure has a beard, moustache and red-striped top hat. Its name and exact height were announced during a public ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 18, 2026, as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary.
How tall is Verne the Patriot?
Verne the Patriot measures 65 feet 7½ inches, or almost 20 metres, without its base. A nine-foot pedestal places the top of the structure approximately 74 feet 7½ inches above ground level.
For comparison, the nutcracker currently recognised by Guinness World Records measures 33 feet 1 inch. The fully functional figure was created by Jürgen and Uwe Löschner in Neuhausen, Germany, and received the record on August 9, 2008.
Verne has been submitted for Guinness recognition, but official certification had not been announced at the time of publication. Guinness notes that records can change before its online listings are updated, so the German figure remains the organisation’s published record holder for now.
Where is the giant Luverne nutcracker?
The roadside attraction stands outside Those Blasted Things, a family-operated rock shop in Luverne. The southwestern Minnesota city is approximately 30 miles east of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and about 200 miles southwest of Minneapolis.
Thousands of smaller nutcrackers can be seen at the Rock County History Center at 312 East Main Street. Visitors planning a special journey should confirm the museum and shop opening hours in advance.
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When was Verne the Patriot unveiled?
The structure was completed shortly before its official introduction. Hundreds of people attended the July 18 ribbon-cutting, where Katie Walgrave announced its name and precise measurement. Guests were later served red, white and blue cookies and slushies.
Although nutcrackers are commonly associated with Christmas, they are a year-round attraction in Luverne. The community also holds a summer Nutcracker Fest.
How much did Verne the Patriot cost?
The project cost approximately $600,000, according to Walgrave, whose family operates Those Blasted Things. Donations and grants financed the attraction.
Verne took several years to develop. Its large components were produced in Utah and transported to Minnesota for assembly. A crane was required to lift the enormous head and hat into position.
The patriotic design was timed to complement America’s 250th-anniversary celebrations while creating a highly visible reason for motorists to stop in Luverne.
Why does Luverne have thousands of nutcrackers?
The city’s unusual connection began with resident Betty Mann, now 96. After losing her husband and daughter, Mann visited a Cracker Barrel in January 2001 and bought a wooden nutcracker as a belated Christmas present.
Her collection eventually grew to more than 2,500 figures. In 2016, she donated them to the local historical society, where she served as president, hoping the display would attract more visitors to its museum.
Further donations expanded the collection at the Rock County History Center to 7,554 nutcrackers—more than Luverne’s population of roughly 5,000. Organisers say no two figures in the collection are identical.
Luverne does not hold the Guinness title for the largest nutcracker collection. That separate record belongs to a 10,000-piece collection confirmed in Vilnius, Lithuania, in 2021.
Why was the roadside attraction built?
The idea emerged after a tourism adviser encouraged local leaders to make greater use of Luverne’s distinctive collection. A city committee responded by developing a record-sized outdoor figure that could attract travellers and support local businesses.
The early impact has been noticeable. Walgrave said customer traffic at Those Blasted Things had quadrupled since Verne was completed, while other businesses also reported receiving more visitors.
The attraction arrives alongside growing interest in America 250 commemorative items and decorations during the anniversary year.
A personal connection behind the celebration
The unveiling held special meaning for John and Francine Hawkinson of Lakeville, Minnesota. John arranged the nearly 200-mile trip after a house fire destroyed Francine’s collection of almost 300 nutcrackers.
The lost figures included a sailor representing John’s Navy service and matching bride-and-groom nutcrackers connected to their marriage. Their visit reflected the personal history behind Luverne’s collection, which also began when Mann bought her first figure following a period of loss.
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