Have you ever wondered where Marilyn Monroe’s resting place is in Los Angeles? It’s not where you may think and not easy to find.
Marilyn Monroe was the iconic American movie sweetheart. She became famous as an actress, singer, model, sex symbol, and one of Hollywood’s most bankable performers.
Her gravesite in Los Angeles is truly a hidden gem and a simple testament to Hollywood’s glamour and tragedy.
Born and died in Los Angeles: A candle in the wind
Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, at the Los Angeles County Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
Monroe spent her final months at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood. Her death, at 36, is still surrounded by conspiracy theories to this day.
In 1962, when Marilyn Monroe died, she was interred at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
Joe DiMaggio, whose renowned affair with Monroe (which ended in divorce after a brief marriage in 1954) was allegedly revived soon before her death, handled the burial arrangements.
In a quiet residential neighborhood near UCLA down the road from Beverly Hills, Westwood Memorial Park is home to Marilyn Monroe’s remains and a few other entertainment and political figures.
She has a marble slab grave marker that contains her birth and death dates (the only dates that matter, really).
Find out where Marilyn Monroe is buried in Los Angeles
Marilyn Monroe’s final resting place is in Corridor of Memories at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary.
It is a small, peaceful, and lovely place to visit, especially if you are a fan of old Hollywood and like to walk through tranquil cemeteries.
It is not an easy place to find because Memorial Park hides behind some buildings. You can locate it on a map using this address: 1218 Glendon Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90024. It is half-block off busy Wilshire Blvd.
To find Marilyn’s grave, enter the cemetery through the front gates and immediately turn left. Go down to the prayer room, where you will see Marilyn’s tomb to the left a few plots down.
How the Westwood Memorial Park looks
Here’s where you can find Marilyn Monroe’s grave in an above-ground tomb in a secluded corner of this small Los Angeles cemetery. As a famous actress, Marilyn was used to being watched, but even she appreciated her privacy.
The cemetery isn’t large, so we were able to explore it easily. The grounds are peaceful and dignified—a nice, quiet place to walk and reflect on Marilyn’s life.
There weren’t many tourists, but there were enough at Marilyn Monroe’s crypt that we had to wait our turn to get a picture. Fans have kissed the stone and left lipstick kisses.
As an aside, Hugh Hefner, the creator of Playboy magazine, purchased the spot exactly adjacent to Marilyn Monroe’s tomb before his death.
After paying $75,000 for the area, Hefner told the Los Angeles Times,
“Spending eternity next to Marilyn is too sweet to pass up.”
Reflect upon the final resting place of a 20th-century icon
Interestingly, Marilyn Monroe, one of the most famous women in history, was buried in a relatively small cemetery rather than a vast, impersonal mausoleum.
What I didn’t expect was the intimacy of her crypt. It’s a lot like she may have wanted it – quiet with lots of greenery and pretty flowers.
Her gravestone was much smaller than I imagined, and the place felt peaceful and respectful. It is a moment to stop and reflect and be happy for her life and accomplishments (and almost-60 years gone) as you think about yours.
Marilyn Monroe’s final resting place is in Corridor of Memories at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary.
Are you a fan of Marilyn Monroe? Have you visited Westwood Memorial Park? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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