The Cracker House Project

The Cracker House Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to renovating the home of Frank L. Sommer, who invented the saltine cracker in St. Joseph in the 19th century, significantly contributed to the industrial progress of the city, and was instrumental in the founding of NABISCO. The home is located in a historic, but distressed, area of the city, on historic Main Street. Our goal with the renovation of this home is to encourage others to start rehabilitating the surrounding neighborhood, and to bring attention to the beautiful, if dusty, jewels of this area of town.

The end goal for the home is for it to become a community space, with small businesses such as a cafe, depot for historical trolley tours, a "made in missouri" gift shop, and a beautiful garden in the large yard, all open and welcoming to the residents of the neighborhood.