Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs’ beloved Forever Marilyn statue has found a new home—but not everyone is thrilled about it. The 26-foot-tall sculpture, which immortalizes Marilyn Monroe’s famous subway-grate moment from The Seven Year Itch, was recently relocated to the newly developed downtown park at an approximate cost of $500,000. While the move was meant to preserve the statue’s presence in the heart of the city, some residents and visitors feel that its charm has been overshadowed—literally.
The move was the result of a compromise between the Committee to Relocate Marilyn (CReMa) organized by local business owner Trina Turk by and PS Resorts, the statue’s owners, following a lengthy debate over the best placement for the beloved landmark out of the line of site of the Palm Springs Art Museum and to open up Museum Way to vehicular traffic. While the relocation was intended to maintain her presence in the city’s core, the unexpected visual obstruction has left many questioning whether the new setting truly does justice to the Hollywood icon.
Critics argue that the statue is now obscured by trees, diminishing the impact of one of Palm Springs’ most photographed landmarks. Disappointed locals took to the I Love Downtown Palm Springs Facebook Group lead by local Palm Springs Advocate Matt Robinson to voice their frustration. “Just drove by it. So disappointed that she’s now hidden away in the trees,” one user lamented. Another, a part-time resident, wrote, “This is so sad! We are homeowners and part-time residents in PS, and Marilyn was one of my favorite things! She looked perfect where she was.” Others called for immediate tree trimming or tree removal to restore her visibility.
Pictured: Marilyn Monroe Statue In Certain Location Blocked By Trees
Pictured: Marilyn Monroe Statue Visibly Seen
Forever Marilyn, created by American artist Seward Johnson, is a masterful work of realism, weighing an astonishing 34,300 pounds. With its intricate layers of shading and glossy finishes on her lips, toenails, and earrings, the statue is part of Johnson’s Icons Revisited series, exploring how cultural figures transcend their time.
As Palm Springs residents adjust to Marilyn’s new backdrop, one thing remains certain—whether perfectly posed or partially hidden, she continues to captivate. The only question now: Will the trees stay, or will the calls for change lead to another modification of her stage?