During the Civil War
- Coffins were used to transport dead bodies back to their hometowns so that they could be buried
- The Civil War was the start of the "casket industry" and started a big boom in the production of caskets
Early version of a casket
Caskets Today
- can be personally customized to look like vaious things
- caskets are used for burials and funerals
- transport dead bodies
- transportation of illegal drugs
Relevance to Indiana
Batesville Casket Company is a casket company that started in 1884, nearly 20 years after the Civil War ended. During the Civil War, the casket industry boomed and the production of caskets rapidly grew. It began when John Hillenbrand began producing handmade wooden caskets. It was founded and headquartered in Batesville, Indiana. Other than Batesville, Indiana, other Batesville Casket Companies reside in;
- Batesville, Mississippi
- Chihuahua, Mexico
- Manchester, Tennessee
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Vicksburg, Mississippi