2. DESCRIPTION
• Description on program: “Experience unique national treasures and the
country’s largest display of funeral service memorabilia in the 30,500 square
foot National Museum of Funeral History”
• Name: National Museum of Funeral History
• Founded in: 1992 by Mr. Robert L. Waltrip
• Elements: A series of dark, but celebratory connecting rooms featuring
different exhibits such as “Popes of the Vatican”, “History of Embalming”,
and “Thanks for the Memories”
• What is it all about? Museum effectively demonstrates the different ways
mankind handles death via exhibits from different time periods and cultures
• Highlights/Recognizable memorabilia: Michael Jackson items and The Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier
3.
4. ELEMENTS OF THE WORK: LIGHTING
• Lighting changes based on theme of
the room and the ambiance desired
• For example, neon lights were used to
represent the star power and joy
celebrities bring us
• Dim lights were used for the 9/11
exhibit to represent a somber tone
• The Pope’s room was brightly lit which
symbolized a godly effect
5. TECHNICAL QUALITIES OF THE
WORK
• Looping video’s of the deceased life
stories
• Video of the 21 gun salute and
changing of the guard at the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier located in
Arlington National Cemetery
• Interactive touch screen games
such as Guess the Celebrities
Epitaph
• The chilling radio broadcast of
J.F.K.’s assasination
6. ANALYSIS
• Similarities:
• All exhibits had a theme, exhibit specific
entertainment features such as interactive games
and videos
• All exhibits had multiple rooms which escalated to a
climatic ending, for example, in the“Popes of the
Vatican” exhibit each room covered a specific part
of Pope John Paul II’s life ending with his viewing and
his burial in the same tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica as
previous popes
7. POINT OF EMPHASIS
• All exhibits had a focal point which tied
to the theme
• In the “Tradiciones funerarias de Mexico”
exhibit, the Dia De Los Muertos skeleton
was featured in all aspects including in
the focal point of the exhibit which was
the shrine to the Santa Muerte or skeleton
figure seen in all day of the dead
traditions
• Patrons were encouraged to write
messages to deceased loved ones on
the shrine
8. MY INTERPRETATION
• Expressive Qualities – Emotions Felt
• The Popes of the Vatican Exhibit
•
•
•
•
Humbling
Grandiose
Spiritual
Enlightenment
• 9/11 Exhibit
• Tragic
• Heart wrenching
• Respect for first responders
• Arlington National Cemetery
• Moving
9. DOES THE WORK REMIND YOU OF
OTHER THINGS YOU’VE EXPERIENCED?
• The Popes of the Vatican exhibit is very
similar to the Rothko Chapel in regards
to it being a spiritual experience; both
were very awe inspiring
• The 9/11 exhibit reminded me of when
I went to the Holocaust museum in
middle school; watching the victims
weep over the tragedy on the screens
was very saddening. It reminded me
of the emotions I felt when reading
and watching the interviews of the
Holocaust survivors
10. RELATION TO MY STUDIES
• The Presidential Room relates to my current history classes as we just covered
the J.F.K. assassination
• Maya Ying Lin made the Reflections on the Wall exhibit which was
dedicated on Veteran’s Day weekend in memory of the men and women
that died in Southeast Asia. I found it very fascinating considering we just
learned about her in class
11. JUDGEMENT
• This museum was very enjoyable and I would recommend it to all of my
classmates
• The $10 dollar entrance fee was definitely worth it
• I expected a boring exhibit and was truly not interested in going there, but I
feel the exact opposite now. I plan on bringing my friends back with me
soon.
• Infant Coffins!
12. COMPARED TO OTHERS…
• This museum was much more interesting than the Gulf Coast museum
because the Gulf Coast Museum lacks the interactive games and videos
that this museum had
ORIGINALITY?
• Where else can you write your own epitaph and take home a copy of a
celebrities death certificate!?
• I’d say this museum takes the cake for originality
