“Thanks for the Memories” exhibit celebrates the lives and funerals of pop culture’s most famous

  The National Museum of Funeral History is a great place to visit in the New Year. As we renew and create new resolutions, we celebrate another year of life and give thanks for the abundance of friends, family and joy from the holiday season. The museum is a place that celebrates both life and death by honoring different cultures, our political and religious leaders as well as veterans, and iconic entertainment figures. Before the kids return to school from their holiday break, continue their (and your) “edu-tainment” with a visit to the museum to explore more than 30,000 square feet of exhibit space and learn about the mourning rituals of ancient civilizations, see up-close the authentic items used in the funerals of U.S. Presidents and Popes, explore the rich heritage of the industry which cares for the dead and more.

  There’s always something interesting to learn and explore at the National Museum of Funeral History. With more than twelve permanent exhibits, there’s something for everyone at the museum. One particular exhibit that pop culture fans will love is the Thanks for the Memories exhibit. Ranging from the magnificent to the outrageous, celebrity funerals fascinate us and captivate audiences around the globe. Thanks for the Memories provides an up-close and personal look at how we’ve bid farewell to some of the world’s most iconic figures. On display are authentic memorial folders and memorabilia used in the funeral services and burials of Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, Bob Hope and more international superstars. The stories of their lives, deaths and legacies are further told through the museum’s extensive collection of original news reports and images.

  As we enter the New Year, the entertainment industry’s award season gets in full swing – People’s Choice Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards in January, along with The Grammy Awards and The Academy Awards in February. As they honor those who have passed in the previous year, the museum also memorializes them, too, in the Thanks for the Memories exhibit. From Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joan Rivers and Casey Kasem to Robin Williams, Shirley Temple, James Garner and Lauren Bacall, the museum pays tribute to these iconic figures and celebrates their lives and their contributions to our society. Visitors can also enjoy the interactive areas of exhibit, including a trivia game where you guess which epitaphs are engraved on celebrity headstones, and learn more about creative ways to be “buried,” including sending your ashes into space.

  The National Museum of Funeral History houses the country’s largest collection of funeral service artifacts and features renowned exhibits on one of man’s oldest cultural customs. Other permanent exhibits include – Ghana Fantasy Coffins; Coffins and Caskets of the Past; Lives and Deaths of the Popes; 19th Century Mourning Customs; History of Embalming; Day of the Dead; Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; and more. There’s something for everyone. We hope to see you soon!