National Museum of Funeral History

A chance drive by led to a visit to the National Museum of Funeral History.  This museum is located on the north side of Houston just of I-45 at exit 64. The building itself doesn’t stand out and you might just drive by it without giving the industrial-looking facade a second glance. Instead, consider paying the reasonable entrance fee (around $10 or under with discount) and take in the some 35,000 items on display through this museum’s permanent and special exhibits. All of which focus on the history of funerals. Such exhibits include:

• The History of Cremation
• Thanks for the Memories
• Celebrating the Lives and Deaths of the Popes
• Day of the Dead / Día De Los Muertos
• History of Embalming
• 19th Century Mourning
• Presidential Funerals
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Reflections on the Wall
• Coffins and Caskets of the Past
• Historical Hearses
• A Life Well Lived: Fantasy Coffins from Ghana
• Japanese Funerals
• 9/11 and Fallen Heroes Tribute
• Marsellus Casket Company

Some of the more interesting findings during my tour of the museum continues as follows:

Presidential Funerals Exhibit

History of Embalming

Coffins and Caskets