Travel From Cleveland To Dover To See Spooky Artifacts From The Dearly Departed At The Famous Endings Museum
By Nikki Rhoades|Published August 23, 2021
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Ever feel like you’ve done everything there is to do in Cleveland? It can be frustrating when you’re itching to explore a new place but feel void of local inspiration. Fortunately, Ohio is full of fascinating places worthy of a day trip. Dover, Ohio is a magnificent destination for a quick adventure, or for a weekend trip. This community is a little bit under an hour and a half outside of Cleveland, but it’s well worth the trip if you’re craving a unique experience. You see, it is home to one of the largest collections of famous funeral paraphernalia in the entire world. The Famous Endings Museum in Ohio is a unique small town attraction, but it’s got a lot of heart. Check it out:
Down in Tuscarawas County is a sleepy city with ties to the historic Ohio and Erie Canal.
Dover, Ohio started its life as Canal Dover. It was incorporated as a city in 1903, but the first settlers arrived nearly a century earlier. This town of some 12,000 residents has produced many interesting people, from Olympic swimmers to NFL players to Pixar filmmakers.
One of the more interesting places in town is the Famous Endings Museum, which is hidden in a local funeral home.
This funeral home, like many things in Dover, has historic roots. It was first founded by John and Marguerite Toland in 1929, although it moved to its current location in 1935. The funeral home is known for its caring staff and contributions to the community, including . . .
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. . . the fascinating Famous Endings Museum, which is nothing short of a local landmark, although it's a bit different than most comparable small town museums.
The museum got its start as a collection, which grew from a photo of legendary boxer Joe Louis' funeral to 2,500 other artifacts related to famous funerals.
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Considered to be the largest collection of its kind, the oddities at the Famous Endings Museum includes photos, audio recordings, documents, and more related to famous (infamous?) deaths and funerals.
From Abraham Lincoln to Fred Rogers, objects related to familiar figures line the walls. Photographs from famous gravesites also adorn the space, offering something to ponder no matter where the eye falls.
Want to hear more about this collection? Click the link above to schedule a presentation or tour led by John Herzig, the original creator of this fascinating collection.
From royalty to Hollywood royalty, there's simply so much to discover at this free Ohio museum.
Are you a fan of all things macabre? This museum, complete with recently added displays and a variety of fascinating artifacts, absolutely belongs on your bucket list. Connect with the funeral home and museum on Facebook to keep it on your radar.
Michael Jackson, Evel Knievel, and Joe DiMaggio may be gone, but their memory lives on at this quirky museum.
Look for this quirky cool destination at 803 N Wooster Ave, Dover, OH 44622.
There’s no place quite like The Famous Endings Museum in Ohio. Who will you be taking on this adventure with you? Tag them in the comments below and let’s start planning a trip!
Longing for something cool and quirky that’s a bit closer to home? Visit Cleveland’s own witch museum — it features the collection of Raymond Buckland, one of the first practitioners of Wicca in the entire United States.
