If you are in Houston and want a museum visit that is genuinely off the beaten path, the National Museum of Funeral History is hard to beat. Its 'Historical Hearses' exhibit is one of the museum's 19 permanent displays, and it is a rare look at how funeral transport has changed over the centuries. The collection runs from elegant 19th-century horse-drawn carriages all the way to the actual hearses used in the funeral of Grace Kelly and the state funerals of U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald R. Ford.
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It is a small part of a much larger place. Since 1992, the museum has held what it describes as the largest display of funeral service memorabilia in the United States, spread across 30,500 square feet of exhibit space. The hearses are just the beginning. You can walk through the history of cremation, see a Vatican-endorsed exhibit on papal funeral traditions, and browse 'THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES,' which honors famous and infamous figures from Michael Jackson and Marilyn Monroe to Whitney Houston and Elizabeth Taylor. There is a colorful Day of the Dead display, a deep dive into how embalming rituals developed more than 5,000 years ago, and a look at 19th-century mourning customs complete with authentic mourning dress.
For those with an interest in presidential history, the museum leans in hard. The George H.W. Bush Memorial Exhibit features artifacts from the 41st President's funeral, including the '4141' funeral train, the vestments worn by Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., and the uniform of Navy Capt. Judy T. Malana. A separate Presidential Funerals exhibit brings together pieces from the state funerals of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and John F. Kennedy, including the original eternal flame from Kennedy's cemetery and a life-size recreation of Lincoln in repose. You will also find the largest collection of elaborate Ghana fantasy coffins outside of West Africa, a look at the extravagance of Japanese memorial ceremonies, and a 9/11 and Fallen Heroes tribute.
One of the newer additions is 'The Most Famous Burial of All Time: the Shroud of Turin,' which opened on April 27, 2023. It features a certified copy of the Shroud from the Archdiocese of Turin, 14 feet long and made from flax grown in Bergamo, Italy, and used by Lino Val Gandino during the coronavirus pandemic in November 2020. It is one of seven authentic replicas made available by the Turin authorities, and it comes with a life-size statue of the 'Man of the Shroud' sculpted by Luigi Enzo Mattei.
Planning a visit is straightforward. The museum is at 415 Barren Springs Drive, Houston, TX 77090, and you can reach them at 281-876-3063. Hours are Monday through Friday 10:00 to 16:00, Saturday 10:00 to 17:00, and Sunday 12:00 to 17:00. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 55 and over and veterans, $7 for children ages 6 to 11, and free for children 5 and under. SCI employees get in for $10 with an ID badge or business card. Scheduled guided tours are free, there is a unique gift shop, and the museum has event spaces for up to 300 guests, an educational center, and field trips that meet TAKS and STEM requirements.
