National Museum of Funeral History Displays Three-Person Casket Built in the 1930s
At the National Museum of Funeral History, there exists a distinctive wooden casket crafted for three individuals, thought to be the sole example of its type. This casket was commissioned in the mid-1930s by a couple mourning their infant daughter, designed for their eventual deaths alongside their child. Although the creation of this unusual piece took several months, the couple ultimately abandoned their plans and relocated to California, leaving the casket in storage. In the 1950s, the woman sought a refund after her husband's passing, but the funeral home was unable to find the necessary records. She never retrieved the casket, which was later donated to the museum, illustrating how grief can reshape one's outlook on the future.
Key facts
- The National Museum of Funeral History holds a large wooden casket built for three people
- It is believed to be the only known three-person casket of its kind
- A young couple commissioned it in the mid-1930s after their infant daughter died
- The casket was made wide enough for both parents with a space between them for their child
- Construction required months of work because of its unusual size and interior arrangement
- The couple abandoned their plan to die together and moved west toward California
- In the 1950s the woman requested a refund; the funeral home had changed hands twice and could find no records
- The casket remained in storage for years before being donated to the museum
Entities
Institutions
- National Museum of Funeral History
Locations
- California
- United States