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National Museum of Funeral History
The National Museum
of Funeral History Features Artifacts from throughout the United States
and the World. The Museum is the home of rare artifacts and interesting historical
information about one of our most important cultural rituals.
With Exhibits ranging from
the History of Embalming to Funerals of the Famous The National Museum
of Funeral History offers a vast educational experience for all ages.
Below are a few of the thousands of Artifacts your may find on the Exhibition
Floor
Cruciform Casket (Shown Left)
and Glass Casket (Shown Right)
Manufactured specifically by the Cruciform Casket Company
of Oswego, New York, this unique casket did not survive the 19th century.
The solid glass casket made by DeCamp Consolidated Glass Casket Company,
Muskogee, Oklahoma, was specially designed to be made airtight. |
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1860 German "Glaswagen" Funeral Coach
Constructed in Germany by an unknown coach-builder this
type of funeral coach was designated a "glaswagen" because of its use of
heavy, beveled, French plate glass windows. On this particular example,
these windows incorporated an intricate acid-etched cayuse leaf and memorial
torch design as additional decoration.
Unlike their contemporary North American counterparts, European hearses
were generally large, splendid vehicles featuring lavish and intricately
detailed carvings, many of which reflected deep religious symbolism. These
hearses were also generally larger then those used in North America because
German casket styles featured high lids and feet at each corner making
them considerably larger than the "coffins" that predominated in America
at the time.
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John F. Kennedy's Eternal Flame
Originally commissioned in 1963,
JFK's Eternal Flame burned bright 24 hours a day,rain or shine, for over
25 years. In 1998 the flame was replaced with a newer unit allowing for
a longer service life of the flame. JFK's Original Eternal Flame was then
placed into the National Museum of Funeral History on permanent loan
to show the general public not only its glory, but also its general operation.
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1926 Sayers & Scovill Funeral Coach
Cincinnati, Ohio's Sayers & Scovill Company celebrated fifty
consecutive years of funeral car and ambulance production in 1926 by offering
funeral service professionals a special version of its popular DeLuxe Washington
Casket Coach. Advertised as a "Golden Car for a Golden Anniversary" this
special edition S & S at the National Funeral Directors Association Convention
in West Baden, Indiana where it quickly became the center of attention.
A limousine - style vehicle powered by a 70 horsepower Continental red
Seal six cylinder engine, all exterior trim found on these limited edition
"Golden Cars" was gold - plated while the interior was highlighted with
gold and old ivory mounting with decorative woodwork crafted from East
Indian rosewood inlaid with white mahogany.
Enhancing this models exclusivity, distribution of the Golden Anniversary
car was strictly limited to one such vehicle in any city, town locality.
But, that was never a major concern as each of these custom - built funeral
carried a suggested retail price of $10,000.00 - a tremendous sum in 1926.
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