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Marilyn Monroe’s Brentwood home is LA’s newest historic-cultural monument
Marilyn Monroe's Brentwood bungalow home. She lived here until her death in 1962. She is seen here in her last public appearance June 2, 1962.
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Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library and the Los Angeles Herald Examiner Photo Collection
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Topline:
Marilyn Monroe’s former Brentwood home is now officially a Los Angeles historic-cultural monument.
Why now: The L.A. City Council approved the designation in a 12 to 0 vote on Wednesday, with council members Kevin de León, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Eunisses Hernandez absent.
Why it matters: Councilmember Traci Park, whose 11th District includes Brentwood and the property on 5th Helena Drive, said to lose the only home Monroe ever owned would be a “devastating blow for historic preservation and for a city where less than 3% of historic designations are associated with women's heritage.”
The backstory: The current owners planned to demolish the home last year, where Monroe died in 1962. The move sparked a battle on saving the property as fans stepped in to advocate for it to be preserved. Los Angeles' five-member Cultural Heritage Commission unanimously voted to move forward with the designation earlier this year.
What's next: Park said this wasn’t an action she took lightly, and she’s introducing a motion to explore tour bus restrictions on surrounding streets to address neighbor concerns about traffic and safety. Park said her office has also been working closely with the property owners to see if the home could be moved to a place where people could actually visit and spend time there.
Go deeper: Learn more about the struggle to save Monroe’s Brentwood home.
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