In a significant victory for cultural preservation, Marilyn Monroe’s iconic Brentwood home has been spared from demolition. After a year-long battle, the L.A. City Council unanimously voted to designate the residence as a historic cultural monument, ensuring its protection from potential destruction by its current owners. This decision not only honors the legacy of one of Hollywood's most beloved figures but also highlights the importance of preserving women's heritage in a city where such designations are alarmingly scarce.
The decision to protect Monroe's home comes in response to a growing concern among residents and historians about what should be preserved in Southern California—a region rich in architectural history and celebrity lore. Councilmember Traci Park emphasized the significance of the home, stating, “There’s no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home.”
This landmark decision reflects a broader movement towards recognizing and preserving sites of historical significance related to female figures. Monroe's residence, where she lived and tragically passed away, holds a unique place in Hollywood history, making its preservation a crucial step toward acknowledging women's contributions to the cultural landscape.
After a year-long battle, Marilyn Monroe’s Brentwood home has been saved from destruction.
On Wednesday, the L.A. City Council unanimously voted to designate the Spanish Colonial-style residence as a historic cultural monument, protecting it from being razed by its current owners.
“We have an opportunity to do something today that should’ve been done 60 years ago. There’s no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home,” Councilmember Traci Park said in a speech before the vote.
Park, who represents the council’s 11th district, where the property is located, added that she’s planning to introduce a motion to evaluate tour bus restrictions in Brentwood after neighbors complained about unwanted traffic around the estate. She also floated the idea of moving the home to a place where the public could more easily access it.
“To lose this piece of history, the only home that 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,” Park said.
The battle over the home on 5th Helena Drive has been brewing since last summer, evolving into a greater discussion of what exactly is worth protecting in Southern California — a region chock-full of architectural marvels and Old Hollywood haunts swirling with celebrity legend and gossip.
Monroe fans claimed the residence is an indelible piece of Hollywood history; the actress bought the house for $75,000 in 1962 and died there of an apparent overdose six months later, making it the last home she ever occupied.
The homeowners claimed the house has been remodeled so many times over the years that it
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