National Museum of Funeral History, Historical funeral museum in north Houston, United States
The National Museum of Funeral History is a 35,000-square-foot museum in Houston, Texas, opened in 1992. Its galleries hold hearses, unusual coffins, a presidential funeral gallery with Abraham Lincoln's death mask, and an exhibit on papal funerals made with the Vatican. Displays reach back to Ancient Egyptian funerary practices.
The museum opened in 1992 in Houston with 35,000 square feet of exhibition space. Its papal exhibit, Celebrating the Lives and Deaths of the Popes, was created in collaboration with the Vatican. Displays trace funerary practices back to Ancient Egypt and include hearses, unusual coffins and a Presidential Funeral Gallery.
The exhibits show how different cultures honor their dead, from ancient Egyptian customs to New Orleans jazz funerals and religious burial traditions from around the world. Visitors can see the various ways people have created meaningful ceremonies to remember those who have passed.
Visiting on a weekday allows for a quieter experience to explore the exhibits at your own pace without large crowds. Comfortable shoes are recommended since there is a lot of ground to cover and you will spend considerable time standing.
The museum holds the original $99.25 funeral bill for George Washington, and its presidential exhibit includes Abraham Lincoln's death mask. The papal exhibit, Celebrating the Lives and Deaths of the Popes, was made in collaboration with the Vatican.
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