Magnificently Preserved

Elegant icons from the 1800s and 1900s — Zaharakos is a rare presentation of American history.

Soda Fountains

Largest collection of pre-1900 soda fountains on public display

Syrup Dispensers

Rare syrup dispensers on display in the soda fountain area while you dine at a 2-top table across from the soda bar.

Mechanical Music

1908 Welte Orchestrion, a Seeburg Coin Piano, and many more

Soda Fountain Library

Made possible by a generous donation of over 70,000 documents from Joyce and Harold Screen, the Soda Fountain Library preserves and displays a collection of journals, advertising, trade pieces, and paper goods from the soda fountain era from the mid-1800s into the early 1900s. It honors the "Father of the Soda Fountain" with a display on John Matthews that includes a soda fountain mounted to the wall.

Mechanical Music Library

A room dedicated to the preservation of hundreds of rolls of music for the Welte orchestrion, Banjo Orchestra and Seeburg Coin Piano along with numerous phonographs and early music rolls.

Crystal Parlor

What was once the living quarters for the Zaharako family until 1914, the upstairs was transformed into a late 1800s Victorian Era loft which includes a formal dining area, sitting room, kitchen, and bedroom. From gilded ceiling trim to luxurious wall coverings, period lamps, and golden oak floor, every detail tells a story.

Welte Orchestrion

Circa 1908

This self-playing organ is designed to sound like an orchestra as it plays music from punched rolls of paper. When a roll is unwound by the orchestrion’s motor, the small, precisely placed holes in the paper direct airflow through different tubes to play 184 pipes of wood, tin and brass—plus several drums and a triangle. The sound is magnificent and the experience is unforgettable. Welte (WELL-tee) Style 3 Cottage Orchestrion from M. Welte & Sons in Freiburg, Germany.

Welte Restoration

LISTEN to the Welte

Banjo Orchestra

Circa 2013

Arrived at Zaharakos June 26, 2013, this replica was built by the D.C. Ramey Piano Company in Marysville, Ohio. Drop in a quarter to listen to one of the 180 songs. Then watch metal brackets play the strings of a real banjo, accompanied by the piano, snare drum, tambourine, triangle, wood block, castanets, bass drum, and cymbal.

Seeburg Style L Coin Piano

Circa 1925

This “nickelodeon” came out of Chicago during the “Roaring Twenties”. Located in Chicago, J. P. Seeburg Piano Company was the largest maker of American coin pianos and orchestrions. The Seeburg L or “Lilliputian” piano was the smallest coin piano made by Seeburg, first introduced in 1921.

Dining

Previously storage area, the second floor was transformed into a magnificient, Victorian-era suite. Named the Crystal Parlor, this elegant suite of rooms includes a formal dining area, sitting area, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. From the gilded ceiling trim to the luxurious wall coverings, period lamps, and golden oak floor, every detail tells a story.