History

The Northwestern Casket Company dates back to 1882, making it one of the oldest buildings in the Twin Cities. The casket company primarily manufactured and distributed funeral supplies such as high-quality funeral cars, ambulances, burial garments, burial vaults, and caskets. The smaller three-story brick building behind the main four-story building was where the company made horse-drawn funeral coaches. The company operated out of the factory for over 100 years and employed up to 100 people, using advanced steam-powered systems to produce its products sustainably.

Daily shipments of raw lumber were delivered to the plant, where craftspeople, men and women, would create and assemble the shell of the casket as well as customize the interior fabric. Funeral directors ordered caskets via express telegraph or the U.S. Postal Service, and the company shipped them by train to the funeral provider.

The Northwestern Casket Company occupied the building until 2006, when it relocated to New Hope. John Kremer and Jennifer Young purchased the site in 2006 and transformed it into the Casket Arts Community, a vibrant artist studio center.