Museum of Funeral Customs 🇺🇸

If you are exploring the history of American mourning practices, you should know the story of the Museum of Funeral Customs in Springfield, Illinois. Originally situated near Oak Ridge Cemetery—the resting place of Abraham Lincoln—this unique institution explored American funerary customs across different eras. While visiting this former destination, guests could immerse themselves in intriguing exhibits, including a re-created 1920s embalming room, post-mortem photography, and coffins alongside funeral paraphernalia from various cultures and times.

History enthusiasts could also view a scale model of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train, attend guided tours, participate in special events, or access specialized resources for scholarly research. Before departing, visitors often stopped by the gift shop to purchase educational books alongside novelty funeral-related gifts, such as coffin-shaped keychains and chocolates. Please note that the original venue closed permanently in March 2009 due to poor attendance and trust fund issues.

In February 2011, its extensive collection was transferred to the Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum in Carthage, Illinois. Meanwhile, the original Springfield building reopened in March 2016 as the Springfield and Central Illinois African-American History Museum, which now focuses on the history of the local Black community.

What to see at Museum of Funeral Customs

• Re-created 1920s embalming room exhibit
• Scale model of Abraham Lincoln's funeral train
• Coffins and funeral paraphernalia from various cultures and times
• Historical examples of post-mortem photography
• Unique gift shop selling coffin-shaped keychains and chocolates

Visiting tips

To see the museum's collection today, plan a visit to the Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum in Carthage, Illinois, where the contents were relocated.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Museum of Funeral Customs is easy to reach on Springfield’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Old State Capitol State Historic Site and Henson Robinson Zoo. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Springfield travel guide.