Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
The Presidents Hall of Fame in Clermont remains a truly unique and valuable treasure trove of American history. Sadly the founders, John Zweifel and his wife Jan, recently passed away.
Their six children are actively taking over to professionally maintain and keep up what their father began so many years ago to protect American presidential and White House history. The three sons, Randy, Jack ‘John’ and Jamie have just begun to direct a major update project to paint, clean, reorganize and promote the President’s Hall of Fame as a prominent attraction while their sisters Kathy, Janet and Julie help support this renewal project. The now-adult children have all been actively involved in their father’s dreams since they were young.
John Zweifel success story started at the young age of 4 with his desire to become an accomplished miniaturist. He started whittling objects from cardboard and carving figures out of bars of soap with his grandfather. Zweifel would watch and admire the trains go by near his home, always hoping to see the Circus Trains. This inspired him to run away to join the circus as a teenager, where he worked and traveled across America. While still a teenager, he built a 14,000-piece mini-replica of a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus scene. He loved building miniature replicas. His role model was P.T. Barnum
He became very inspired by American history and patriotism after taking his first tour of the White House in 1956 when he was 20. He was immediately excited and obsessed to show all 132 rooms and more than the 5 rooms he was allowed to visit during his tour. That important visit as a mere tourist inspired the rest of his career and life.
Recently, the three sons collectively noted, “Our father’s endless love for celebrating America must be honored and carried forward!” They shared that their dad started a successful display company in Evanston, IL., where the family was raised. Since 1960, he created all kinds of miniature displays and captivated department store windows drawing large crowds of admirers.
He first moved his family to Florida to work with Circus World and later with Walt Disney World and other national brands. The sons note, “Our dad always had at least 200 projects going simultaneously with his career and all of his personal ambitions.”
Presidents Hall Of Fame Origin: The original Presidents Hall of Fame started as a roadside wax museum tourist attraction in 1964 in Clermont next to the Citrus Tower. It was first built by Mr. Toole who was one of the two original owners and builders of the Clermont Citrus Tower. John and Jan Zweifel purchased the original House of Presidents in the early 1990’s and added their collection of thousands upon thousands of historic artifacts, as well as the famous White House Replica.
After several years of letter writing and calling, Zweifel was allowed access to. the White House by Jackie Kennedy. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to see every room. Zweifel proceeded to build his replica and finally got full access when Gerald Ford became president in 1974. He returned with a full team, so they could measure and photograph every room of the White House, getting complete access to the ground floor, first and second floors.
Zweifel worked to replicate every detail from chairs and carpets to paintings. He made postage-stamp-sized television sets and tiny vases filled with tiny fake flowers. He juggled his work on the model with his day job as owner of a company that staged events and created window displays at major department stores in New York City, Chicago and across the country.
His miniature White House model was nearly completed in time for America’s bi-centennial celebration in 1976 and was to become the most famous and only miniature White House replication in the world.
Today, the miniature White House resides in Clermont at the Presidents’ Hall of Fame along with the original presidential wax figures dating back to 1964. John Zweifel would say, “This miniature White House will never be finished as new presidents are elected and history continues to evolve!”
Zweifel and his family were personally invited by numerous Presidents and First Ladies to the White House. Like their father, the Zweifel children remain totally enthusiastic in finding true one-of-a-kind authentic historic American Presidential artifacts and unique replicas.
His miniature White House has been featured multiple times in People and Time Magazines, on nationally televised TV shows and in major movies. Zweifel was deservedly nominated by Nancy Reagan for the National Medal of Arts Awards.
The miniature White House, a 60 foot-long by 20 feet wide replica, includes the East and West Wings. Each room is fully authentic with artwork and decorations that get updated seasonally and annually. Features include working mini-televisions, crystal chandeliers and updated versions of the Oval Office as the decor changes with each administration. Their interior displays are updated with each president and each seasonal holiday. Many original artifacts and replicas are displayed throughout the extensive museum exhibition, including the Liberty Bell, former White House china, old Christmas cards, historic letters, unique photos, authentic Christmas ornaments and the two champagne glasses that President Reagan and Gorbachev once sipped from in a toast. The replicas featured are absolutely amazing! There is Carolyn Kennedy’s bedroom dresser and a full-size model of the famous Oval Office Resolute Desk. The miniature White House was designed on a 1-inch to 1-foot scale.
President Gerald Ford noted, “The White House is owned by all Americans, yet only a small number of people have ever had the opportunity to see it in person. John and Jan Zweifel recreated a home for our presidents and the first ladies to be shared with people in all 50 states. Their miniature White House replica is truly a gift to the people, from the people.” Ronald Reagan described this miniature White House as “A true national treasure!”
It is estimated that over 50 million people have seen the miniature White House while it was on tour since the 1960s. The picture-perfect White House replica has been featured at the White House as well as in Great Britain, Europe, The Netherlands, Japan and at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. The miniature White House has been featured on display in all 50 states at all Presidential libraries, at Republican and Democratic National Conventions as well as worldwide with royalty. The Presidents Hall of Fame became noteworthy as it has the largest and most complete collection of Presidential Americana artifacts in the world over most of the past 70 years.
There are many thousands of items on display at the Presidents Hall of Fame. Wax figures of all of the U.S. Presidents are on display from George Washington to Donald Trump. The First Lady exhibition showcases replicas of their beautiful Inaugural Gowns. The Trump and Biden-Harris collections are being processed and a new wax statue of Joe Biden is now on order, although it may take up to a year to get to the museum.
Besides painting the entire building, updating all of the signs, displays, restoring the Gerald Ford limousine, fixing the wax statues and reorganizing all of the presidential collections; there is much more now being planned.
While there are no specific dates to be announced, some of John Zweifel’ s expansion plans and dreams will hopefully come true within the next few years. John was planning to triple the size of this museum. A full-sized Oval Office and the Lincoln Bedroom is planned as a major new walk-in display.
The Zweifel family plans to continue to celebrate most American holidays and a special 250th birthday of America in 2026 and to the Tricentennial in 2076!
The Gift Shop is filled with an array of memorabilia.
Clermont Presidents Hall of Fame: Bring your cameras! The Presidents Hall of Fame is located at 123 Highway 27 in Clermont, Florida 34711 right next to the Citrus Tower. Adult tickets are still only $15.50 and children are only $8.50 each. To celebrate Presidents Day for the month of February with any group purchase of 4 adult tickets, you will receive a free copy of The White House in Miniature Book with a limit of one per household. Also included with your paid admission purchase a ticket, you will receive a VIP Pass which will allow you to come back as many times as you want for the next full year. You can park here for free while visiting the famous Clermont Citrus Tower right next door. For more information, call 352-394-2836 or visit: http://thepresidentshalloffame.com/. Find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ThePresidentsHallofFame/ and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/235606489/the-presidents-hall-of-fame?hl=en
