5 Reasons You Can’t Miss The Amazing Presidents Hall of Fame in Clermont, Florida
History is one of those topics that can be difficult to get “hands-on” with. Often times, you engage through reading primary sources which, when interpreted correctly, can be incredibly revealing and engaging. But to get to that point, you practically have to get a degree in history to have the skills and knowledge to enjoy those historical documents! (Not to mention special protective gloves and exclusive library cards.)
Bringing history to life is the best way to make the past approachable to the masses, and that’s just what the folks at the Presidents Hall of Fame have done!
While you won’t necessarily meet any living presidents, the miniature White House, wax figures, and detailed interpretive placards will help you engage with America’s past like never before! It’s an enthralling case study in leadership and legacy.
So, if you’re looking for something different to do this summer, something that will transport you back in time and give you a deeper connection to the U.S. of yesteryear, then you can’t miss the Presidents Hall of Fame in Clermont, Florida!
1. Miniature White House
One of the coolest things you’ll encounter when you visit the Presidents Hall of Fame is the miniature White House. There are a couple of different dioramas set up to show off the most iconic building in the U.S.
The first is a replica of the construction of the White House. All of the figures used to demonstrate the people involved in its construction are wearing authentic period clothing. This dedication to detail brings a wonderful sense of realism to the display that’ll have you feeling as if you traveled back in time to witness the White House’s construction for yourself!
Once you’ve thoroughly examined the construction process of the White House, be sure to stop by the model of the finished product! The finished White House model is all done to scale and was intricately crafted to get each and every detail right. By peeking into each room, you’ll get a sense of what it’s like to roam the halls of the old President’s Mansion without having to travel to Washington, D.C. to see it! (Being able to “visit” the White House without wading through D.C.’s grueling traffic makes this attraction an automatic win in my books.)
2. Mount Rushmore…in Florida?
Another American icon that draws people from all over the world is Mount Rushmore.
Mount Rushmore features the faces of four iconic U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Carved from the side of a granite mountain in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore remains one of our country’s most impressive displays of art and engineering.
However, there isn’t a beach nearby. Luckily, at the Presidents Hall of Fame, they’ve constructed their very own model of the memorial so you can get a sense of the real one’s grandeur then hit the waves within a couple of hours. This model is so enormous, it’s actually outside of the Hall of Fame!
3. Next Stop, Lincoln Memorial!
If your appetite for seeing iconic American memorials isn’t satisfied after viewing the replica of Mount Rushmore, don’t worry! Only a few steps away is another replica of one of the most significant memorials in the U.S.: the Lincoln Memorial. While the replica isn’t made out of marble like the authentic one is in Washington, D.C., the attention to detail that went into crafting this replica will make you think you’re seeing the real thing!
4. Realistic Wax Figures
Getting to meet a president is a pretty tremendous experience. Accomplishing something noteworthy like winning a major sporting event, earning the Medal of Honor, or making great progress in social justice are all ways that people have earned an invitation to the White House.
But you don’t have to accomplish the astounding to “meet” the presidents when you visit the Presidents Hall of Fame! All throughout the museum, you’ll find life-like wax figures that will have you doing double-takes because of how realistic they are. To really cement the sense of time travel, you’ll find presidents that have long since passed, standing before you as if they were frozen in time.
Nice to meet you, Mr. Madison! Love what you did with the Bill of Rights…
5. Expert Staff
One of the best ways to experience the Presidents Hall of Fame is by talking to the staff that works there. Since the museum is so small, the staff all have the ability to collaborate and talk to each other in order to share their knowledge about each part of the museum.
Of course, you can walk through the museum and interpret it for yourself, but having someone who is an expert on each subject explain the details, the stories, and the little-known facts certainly bring a new edge to the experience that you and your group will not soon forget!
Final Thoughts
The Presidents Hall of Fame is well worth stopping for a visit. You’ll get to learn all sorts of amazing facts about the leaders of one of the strongest countries in world history. Not only that, but you’ll also learn more about their families, too; after all, a strong president is nothing without a strong support system behind him!
When you visit, you should plan on spending at least 2 hours there to cover as much of the museum as you possibly can. And don’t be afraid to talk to some of the staff about what they know. They love to share their historical knowledge with guests!
And when you’re done visiting, make sure to come on back to drop us a comment letting us know how much you enjoyed your visit. We can’t wait to hear about it!
Cover Image
Photo: Unsplash
Recommended Gear for this Adventure
Disclaimer: We earn a commission if you click any of the links above and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
