NATIONAL MUSEUM of FUNERAL HISTORY (TM)
Posted by: Matt McCormick | From: December 4, 2007
NATIONAL MUSEUM of FUNERAL HISTORY (TM)
ANY DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE (TM)
"Experience unique national treasures and the country's largest display of funeral service memorabilia in the 20,000 square foot National Museum of Funeral History.
The museum is the home of rare artifacts and interesting historical information about one of our most important cultural rituals.
Among many fascinating items, you will find The funerals of the Famous Gallery, which exhibits artifacts and information on a variety of political and celebrity figures, including Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Mickey Mantle, and many more.
There are also presidential funeral exhibits such as the original "Eternal Flame" that burned at President John F Kennedy's Arlington grave until 1998 and memorabilia from President George Washington to President Richard Nixon. In addition, the museum exhibits an exact replica of President Abraham Lincoln's stately coffin, one of only two in existence today.
For the car enthusiast, the museum showcases a collection of horse-drawn hearses from as early as 1832 to other one-of-a-kind funeral service vehicles, all of which are still operable. Included in this exhibit are funeral sleighs, horse-drawn hearses and mourning coaches, a 1916 Packard "funeral bus" intended to replace the funeral procession, a 1921 Rockfalls Hearse made of six different types of wood, and a 1938 Henney-Packard Flower Car.
A full-scale replica of King Tut's Sarcophagus highlights the exhibit in the "funeral directors" of ancient Egypt, who were the first to use sophisticated embalming processes thousands of years ago.
Other permanent displays include 19th century mourning clothes, various types of mourning jewelry and a late 19th century mourning room with a Victorian setting.
Recognized both nationally and internationally, the museum is ever changing and home to many rare collections, some even featured in movies and plays.
The National Museum of Funeral History enlightens its visitors with the interesting and often "mysterious" rituals that surround death.
The Museum provides a unique and entertaining atmosphere to hold corporate events and parties, from small 50-person cocktail parties to fully catered events with hundreds of guests. In addition to the Museum area, we offer over 10,000 feet of dining, kitchen, auditorium, and private meeting space.
We offer an enjoyable experience that cannot be matched by other museums.”
(this text was entirely lifted from the museums brochure. after visiting the museum the other day, which is in the suburbs of houston in a slightly awkward building, i decided there was no way i could better describe the overall feel of the place then to simply let them speak for themselves. but do visit their website at www.nmfh.org)
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FINALLY, an entertaining venue for my cocktail party.
Posted by: Elyse at December 5, 2007 1:06 AM