National Museum of Funeral History

Just a quick, quirky blog to make your day! Mike's sister, Meg is visiting us and we spent Saturday sight seeing--however, the best place we visited all day (even better then the Galleria, which is the 2nd largest mall in the US) was the National Funeral Museum! Sweet! Betcha didn't know that there was a National Funeral Museum--allow me to take you on the tour!

Here's some crazy caskets--apparently people in Ghana have caskets modeled after what they did in life, like their jobs, or things about their personality or class! Crazy!


Here's a creepy three person casket--a family in the early 1900's had a child die and decided that they would have the husband kill the wife and then commit suicide--and then all be buried together. They ordered this casket made, and then decided not to go through with their plan--so it is now housed in the National Funeral Museum.


Here's one that I like--a casket completely covered in money! Whoa! Apparently there is a custom in some cultures that you have to buy your way into heaven--pretty steep price to pay!


Hearse anyone?
Other exciting things about this museum? A civil war morgue, a turn of the century embalming room (see the video below), a book full of famous peoples' death certificates and funeral programs, and a history of the funerals of the US Presidents. And, tune in next summer for the special new display opening about the funeral customs of the pope! In the gift shop you can buy one of a kind wonders like a casket ring box (somehow, that seem truly symbolic!) t-shirts sporting phrases like, "It's better to be over then hill, then under it," and "I've used all my sick days, I'm calling in DEAD!" and "Cremation; It's the last thing to light your fire." Also look for miniature embalming boxes (perfect for your doll house!) and coffin shaped candy. This is certainly a must see for anyone visiting Houston (except, now you've seen it, so take it off your list!)



Hope you got a kick out of it like we did! Loves!!