Chapter
The Origins of Embalming: How it has Shaped Modern Funerals
01:51 - 07:29 (05:37)
Embalming for funerals dates back thousands of years when ancient civilizations would use spices and perfumes to preserve corpses. However, the modern embalming process was introduced in the 1860s by Thomas Holmes, who was inspired by Egyptian mummies.
Clips
Learn about the history of the coffin that carried Abraham Lincoln's body in 1865 from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois which was owned by a sea merchant named Seabury Treadwell and inspired many modern-day coffin designs.
01:51 - 04:28 (02:37)
Summary
Learn about the history of the coffin that carried Abraham Lincoln's body in 1865 from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois which was owned by a sea merchant named Seabury Treadwell and inspired many modern-day coffin designs.
ChapterThe Origins of Embalming: How it has Shaped Modern Funerals
EpisodeHow Embalming Works
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The Merchant House Museum is a must-visit museum in Manhattan, especially when they have special exhibits like the recreation of Edgar Allan Poe's Greenwich Village house.
04:28 - 05:11 (00:42)
Summary
The Merchant House Museum is a must-visit museum in Manhattan, especially when they have special exhibits like the recreation of Edgar Allan Poe's Greenwich Village house. It's also worth checking out the Tenement Museum while in the area.
ChapterThe Origins of Embalming: How it has Shaped Modern Funerals
EpisodeHow Embalming Works
PodcastStuff You Should Know
The modern funeral has evolved from ancient practices of trying to keep the body from decomposing.
05:11 - 07:29 (02:18)
Summary
The modern funeral has evolved from ancient practices of trying to keep the body from decomposing. Today, it is largely due to the introduction of chemical embalming in the 1860s by Thomas Holmes that we are able to have viewings and wakes.