[1] It was established in June 1995 by J. D. Healy and Catherine Shultz with the museum's stated goal being "to make people happy to be alive.

"[2] Originally founded in San Diego,[3] the museum began as a hobby of Healy and Shultz in a building claimed to be the city's first mortuary.

[4] In mid 1999, the couple attempted to acquire a large amount of materials from the Heaven's Gate cult suicides.

[6] The walls include deadening agents to help with recordings, which now serve to lend a quiet acoustic setting for the various exhibitions.

[9] The museum displays a wide variety of art and artifacts surrounding the subject of death.