03/18/2026
Are you curious about the history of cremation? The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) offers an informative online article on this subject. The following are a few points of interest:
▪️Scholars generally agree that cremation began during the early Stone Age – somewhere around 3000 B.C.
▪️The early Romans embraced cremation sometime around 600 B.C. Cremation apparently became so popular that an official decree had to be issued midway through the fifth century against the cremation of bodies within the city.
▪️By the time of the Roman Empire, cremation was widely practiced. Cremated remains were usually stored in elaborate urns.
​▪️In North America, cremation got its official start in 1876 when Dr. Julius LeMoyne built the first crematory in Washington, PA.
​▪️In 1884, the second crematory opened in Lancaster, PA, and was owned and operated by a cremation society.
▪️Other forces tied to early crematory openings were Protestant clergy (who desired to reform burial practices), and medical professionals (who were concerned with health conditions in cemeteries).
▪️Around the country, early crematories commenced operations in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Los Angeles. By 1900, there were 20 crematories in operation within the United States.
▪️In 1913, Dr. Hugo Erichsen founded the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). In the same year, 52 crematories were in operation, and over 10,000 cremations were performed in North America.
▪️CANA reports a 60.6% cremation rate in the United States in 2023. They predict a national cremation rate of 75% as early as 2038.
We’re your local cremation experts. Contact us at (701) 252-5701.
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Source:
https://www.cremationassociation.org/historyofcremation.html
