The Los Angeles home where Marilyn Monroe died was declared a historic landmark on Wednesday, halting plans by its current owners to demolish the property. The house served as the residence for the “Some Like It Hot” star during the final six months of her life until her death from a drug overdose in 1962.
Enduring legacy of Marilyn Monroe
Over half a century later, Monroe remains one of the most beloved figures in American pop culture. Fans and conservationists have closely followed the dispute over the future of her last home.
Property heiress Brinah Milstein and her reality TV producer husband, Roy Bank, purchased the Spanish Colonial-style home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood last summer for $8.35 million. The couple, who owned the house next door, intended to combine the two properties, a project that would have involved razing Monroe’s home.
Public outcry and legal battle
When a demolition permit was issued last September, it sparked an immediate uproar. Local politicians responded by moving quickly to designate the building as a protected status. Last month, the owners sued the city of Los Angeles for “illegal and unconstitutional conduct,” arguing that Monroe had only “occasionally” lived in the home for “a mere six months” and that numerous owners since 1962 had already altered the building significantly.
Despite these objections, city councilors overruled the petition on Wednesday, approving the designation of the house as a historic cultural monument.
An iconic residence
Marilyn Monroe purchased the 3,000-square-foot single-story hacienda in 1962, just after her divorce from playwright Arthur Miller. “There is no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home,” said Councilor Traci Park, whose district includes the house. “Some of the most world-famous images ever taken of her were in that home, on those grounds, and near her pool.”
“There is likely no woman in history or culture who captures the imagination of the public the way Marilyn Monroe did. Even all these years later, her story still resonates and inspires many of us today,” Park added.
Legacy of Marilyn Monroe
Monroe’s smoldering looks and breathy delivery made her one of the most bankable movie stars of her era. The “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” star was linked during her lifetime with some of the most eligible men of her time, including President John F. Kennedy, famously singing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” at Madison Square Garden.
By declaring her final home a historic landmark, Los Angeles ensures that the memory of Marilyn Monroe continues to resonate with future generations.
