The relocation process for the “Forever Marilyn” sculpture in Palm Springs will begin on Sunday. The 26-foot-tall statue will move less than 100 feet from its current location on Museum Way into Downtown Park. The move follows a three-year legal battle involving issues surrounding the sculpture’s placement.
The lawsuit was settled in August, clearing the way for the relocation. The city will spend $500,000 on the move. “We look forward to Forever Marilyn having a permanent home in Palm Springs so we can reflect on all the positive attention she brings to our community,” said Peggy Trott, Chair of a nonprofit group comprised of several hotels that own the sculpture.
According to Trott, the statue welcomed more than 996,033 visitors in 2024 alone. An independent study among Palm Springs resident voters shows 86% agree the statue will be a fun and free attraction, and 75% agree it will promote Palm Springs globally as a fun destination. The sculpture by artist Seward Johnson recreates the moment in the 1955 film “The Seven Year Itch” in which Marilyn Monroe’s white dress surges up toward her waist as she stands on a windy Manhattan subway grate.
The 17-ton statue, made of steel and aluminum, was first unveiled in Chicago in 2011. It then moved to Palm Springs in 2012 and returned in June 2021 after a temporary relocation.
Marilyn statue finds new home
Monroe was “discovered” in Palm Springs at age 22 in 1949 by a talent agent. Many famous photos of her were taken around the Racquet Club’s swimming pool. In the 1950s, she regularly visited Palm Springs with her husband, baseball star Joe DiMaggio.
Officials expect Forever Marilyn to be fully installed in the Downtown Park by Friday, February 28. The relocation will also involve cleaning the statue and refurbishing the paint. Some locals have expressed concerns about the new location.
Street vendor Leonard Foster worries about visibility and vandalism, as the new spot is darker and blocked by trees. “I’m glad that she’s not going anywhere,” Foster said. “But there are some activities that go on at night, and there’s even a police substation right there, and it still doesn’t stop certain things.”
Others like part-time resident Larry Hoffman are disappointed the statue is moving at all.
“I am a little disappointed that she’s being moved,” said Hoffman’s wife Olwen. “I’m concerned also that she won’t be seen quite as freely by people. I really liked where she was before.”
The Palm Springs Police Department says the city’s Impact Team, which deals with public nuisances, will constantly monitor the statue for any issues that may arise in the new location.