National Museum of Funeral History

Earlier this year, I was peddling around the North side of Houston.  My meeting ended early and I really didn’t want to go home just yet.

So, I hopped on the Googles to see if there was anything interesting for me to get into. Lo and behold, I was just a few miles away from the National Museum of Funeral History. I’ve heard of the museum and never been. This seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to kill some time. No pun intended.  

I had a little bit of apprehension before entering the museum. I did not know what to expect and, I mean, the museum is centered around most people’s least favorite subject, death. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

With 15 permanent exhibits, the museum is steeped in history and education.  These exhibits showcase burial traditions from ancient Egypt to the 1800’s. The museum also explores burial traditions across cultures with exhibits recognizing Día de los Muertos, Japanese funerals and Fantasy Coffins from Ghana.

One of the most striking exhibits is one called “Thanks for the Memories” which showcases celebrity funerals. See authentic memorabilia used in the funeral services and burials of Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Whitney Houston, Elizabeth Taylor, Luther Vandross and many others.  What surprised me the most is that you can purchase a copy of a celebrity’s death certificate at the gift shop. Not sure how to feel about that but, the opportunity for you to own a death certificate exist.

The museum also has exhibits on the history of embalming. It was fascinating to see the various methods of preserving human remains. Get a first-hand view of a 1900s embalming room that features authentic equipment. There is an extensive display of embalming tools that makes you increase your respect for the task.

I highly recommend visiting the National Museum of Funeral History. It is a highly educational place that tastefully addresses a bridge that we all must cross. For more information, visit www.nmfh.org.