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All the United States Texas Houston National Museum of Funeral History
AO Edited

National Museum of Funeral History

Fantastic collection celebrating the final send-off.

Houston, Texas

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Wake Like An Egyptian   Archie13 / Atlas Obscura User
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
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Welcome to the museum   retrofuturistic / Atlas Obscura User
You want hearses? They got hearses!   retrofuturistic / Atlas Obscura User
It’s a sleigh! It’s a hearse! It’s a sleigh-hearse   retrofuturistic / Atlas Obscura User
Another Ghanaian children’s coffin. This one: scallion.   retrofuturistic / Atlas Obscura User
The Ghanaian children’s coffins are a tour highlight   retrofuturistic / Atlas Obscura User
History of Embalming   CryptKat / Atlas Obscura User
Ornate Hearse   Archie13 / Atlas Obscura User
Embalming a POTUS   Archie13 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Nestled in a quiet neighborhood of Houston, Texas, the National Museum of Funeral History hosts an unlikely collection celebrating our final send-off.

From a visual history of embalming to African fantasy coffins, the museum is a fascinating look at the history, science, and art of death. Featured in its unique collection is JFK's original eternal flame, a diverse array of funeral programs from famous people, and a collection of beautiful hearses, both horse-drawn and motorized, including a tragic funeral bus which more than lived up to its name.

The specially designed funeral bus was meant to carry both coffin and mourners, but—when climbing a steep hill in San Francisco—it tipped over, sending both the living and the dead flying onto the street. It was quickly retired from service.

An exhibit about presidential funerals includes a bill from George Washington's funeral and the hearse used to carry the bodies of both Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. Visitors can pay their respects to Abraham Lincoln via a full-scale replica of Lincoln lying in repose. In addition to the faux body, the museum has a genuine lock of the 16th president's hair.

The museum is also home to a school that teaches embalming.

Related Tags

Funeral Art Museums Funeral Cars Collections

Community Contributors

Edited By

Andie, CryptKat, Archie13, retrofuturistic...

  • Andie
  • CryptKat
  • Archie13
  • retrofuturistic
  • SemiruralYeti
  • plcanedo

Published

July 14, 2010

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National Museum of Funeral History
415 Barren Springs Drive
Houston, Texas, 77090
United States
29.989533, -95.430586
Visit Website
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Houston

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Stories 8

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Stories 8

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