I know, I know – it sounds drab, dull and hugely morbid, right?

But, in actual fact, this museum was one of my favourite museums ever! It was a little far away for us Missouri City folk (up in The Heights), but the National museum of Funeral History was well worth the trek.  It’s a rather large museum – with something for everyone to enjoy.

Presidential Funerals

We started our museum experience at the Presidential funeral section, this area has memorabilia used in the state funeral and burial services of some of America’s most famous Presidents.  Including original news reports taken from museum’s archives this section of the museum provides a historical perspective on the chain of events, procedures and practices set in motion upon the death of a US president.

Even for non-Americans like us (ok, we’re poly-sci peeps, but still) it was a fascinating part of the museum, with lots to read and look at.

Coffins and caskets of the past

This section was pretty cool – and crazy at the same time.  A modest collection of the different kinds of coffins and caskets used in funerals throughout the generations, among the lot, is a casket built for three people (a mother, father and son with a tragic story for you to read), a glass-paneled coffin created to look like the one in Snow White, and even a casket made out of money – I kid you not!

Historical hearses

Around the perimeter to one side of the museum, is a collection of the vehicles used in ‘olden day’ horse-drawn funeral carriages of the 19th century, some, very rare indeed.  They also have the actual hearses used in the state funeral services of US Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford as well as the funeral of Grace Kelly.

Thanks for the memories

Curious about the funerals of celebrities? In this section, you can see how the world has said farewell to some of the largest names in the business.

Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Star Trek actors, Astronauts, even Disney – the stories of their lives and deaths are in this interactive room, complete with quizzes, music, and interesting memorabilia.

History of Embalming

To those of you with an interest about mummification, embalming and ancient Egypt, to the first techniques used in America during the Civil War and up through the early 20th century, this section is fascinating.  You get to read about the mummification process, the tools involved and the mythology and beliefs behind the whole process.  There is plenty to look at here – we found it very interesting.

Celebrating the lives and deaths of the Popes

This section was surprisingly interesting, fascinating, with an air of reverence as we walked around.  Celebrating the Lives and Deaths of the Popes includes a full-scale replica of Pope John Paul II’s crypt, an exact reproduction of the coffin used in the funerals of three previous Popes as well as replicas of other Papal vestments.

This section shows you the many stages of preparation for the final services and burial of a Pope.  The different stages of a popes journey to his final resting place, the coffin and history behind it.

There is also a section for ‘custom made’ coffins, those off the wall coffins that people have had made in the past – some are rather ‘out there’!

Museum Information

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