Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Dauer Museum of Classic Cars
Peasish (Hrachovina).
‘Hrachovina’
The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial
The glass mural of old Zacatlán
Vitromurales de Zacatlán
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Rats didn’t take over the city by being foolhardy.
Do New York City Rats Deserve Their Bad Rap?
about 14 hours ago
The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants
about 17 hours ago
Solo travel can be challenging and sometimes lonely, but it also often leads to the greatest adventures.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?
1 day ago
Museum of Friends
The Art in This Museum Was Donated for Free
1 day ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Los Angeles Marilyn Monroe's Crypt

Marilyn Monroe's Crypt

Her final resting place was intended to be modest and private, but the power of her popularity continues to draw visitors.

Los Angeles, California

Added By
April Killins
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Lipstick, flowers   Taph Madison
Lipstick, flowers   Taph Madison
Flowers and pennies   Bogdan Migulski
Her crypt stands out   mertxe iturrioz
Marilyn Monroe’s grave   User:Oleg Alexandrov
  hibbibi / Atlas Obscura User
Visiting my childhood favorite legend!   daisyfoxx13 / Atlas Obscura User
8/5/17   Stacey Jean / Atlas Obscura User
  hibbibi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Although she was born as Norma Jeane Mortenson, she was buried as Marilyn Monroe. And although her final resting place was intended to be modest and private, the power of her popularity continues to draw fans and fellow celebrities alike, even after her—and their—demise.

After dying of a drug overdose in what was an apparent suicide on August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe was interred three days later at Westwood Village Memorial Cemetery. The funeral arrangements were handled by Joe DiMaggio, whose famous romance with Monroe (which ended in divorce after a brief marriage in 1954) had reportedly been rekindled shortly before her death.

Feeling some resentment toward the entertainment industry for Monroe's demise, DiMaggio had no interest in making the funeral a Hollywood affair. Westwood was, at a the time, a quiet, out-of-the-way cemetery chosen because it was also the final resting place of Monroe's childhood guardian, Grace Goddard, and her surrogate mother Ana Lower. The private service was restricted to a small group of the star's closest friends and associates.

Ironically, thanks to the presence of Marilyn Monroe's grave, Westwood has been a popular place for celebrity burials ever since. Other famous grave sites in the cemetery include those of Dean Martin, Jack Lemmon, Rodney Dangerfield, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Truman Capote, Ray Bradbury, and Billy Wilder, to name but a few. It is also the final resting place of Hugh Hefner, who bought the tomb next to Monroe's in 1992 so that he could spend eternity alongside Playboy's first Playmate.

Marilyn Monroe's earthly remains are interred in crypt number 24 in the Corridor of Memories, a complex of above-ground crypts on the west side of the cemetery. For 20 years after her death, DiMaggio had red roses delivered to her simple grave three times a week. Today, it is regularly adorned with flowers, cards, letters, and other mementos left by the regular visitors it attracts. Memorial services are held annually on June 1 (her birthday) and August 5 (the date of her death). Monroe's crypt is easily distinguishable from the others in the wall thanks to the discoloration caused by lipstick marks frequently left by fans.

Related Tags

Film Celebrity Gravestones Tombs Catacombs And Crypts Cemeteries Death Graves

Know Before You Go

Marilyn's site is marked on the side of a concrete wall, simply as "Marilyn Monroe 1926-1962"

Community Contributors

Added By

aprilmackillins

Edited By

RHyzer, scott9, SnowyIsland, Stacey Jean...

  • RHyzer
  • scott9
  • SnowyIsland
  • Stacey Jean
  • hibbibi
  • daisyfoxx13
  • LiveLaughLeavemeAlone

Published

September 22, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.seeing-stars.com/Buried2/PierceBros3.shtml
  • http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1919236_1919237_1919221,00.html
  • http://dailybruin.com/2014/09/28/fans-pay-homage-to-marilyn-monroe-at-westwood-village-memorial-park/
  • http://testpattern.nbcnews.com/_news/2007/08/15/4356442-visiting-marilyn-monroes-grave-resting-places-of-the-rich-and-famous
  • http://www.cemeteryguide.com/monroe.html
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westwood_Village_Memorial_Park_Cemetery
Marilyn Monroe's Crypt
Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Cemetery
1218 Glendon Avenue
Los Angeles, California
United States
34.058414, -118.44198
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden

Los Angeles, California

miles away

UCLA Meteorite Collection

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Beverly Hills Bermuda Triangle

Beverly Hills, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

California

Places 237
Stories 62

Nearby Places

Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden

Los Angeles, California

miles away

UCLA Meteorite Collection

Los Angeles, California

miles away

Beverly Hills Bermuda Triangle

Beverly Hills, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Los Angeles

Los Angeles

California

Places 237
Stories 62

Related Places

  • Brooklyn, New York

    Most Holy Trinity Cemetery

    A burial ground of rusting metal grave markers.

  • A beautiful tomb.

    Aguascalientes, Mexico

    Los Ángeles and La Cruz Graveyards

    Legends, sculptures, and unique tombs can be seen lurking in these connected cemeteries.

  • Bellefontaine Cemetery.

    St. Louis, Missouri

    Bellefontaine Cemetery

    The first rural cemetery west of the Mississippi is home to the elaborate tombs of St. Louis' local beer barons.

  • The grave of Carlos Fitzcarrald in Iquitos, Peru

    Iquitos, Peru

    Grave of Carlos Fitzcarrald

    The forgotten tomb of the Peruvian rubber baron who was the inspiration for Werner Herzog's epic film "Fitzcarraldo."

  • Nicolas Cage’s Pyramid Tomb

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    Nicolas Cage's Pyramid Tomb

    In 2010, Nicolas Cage purchased two plots in this cemetery using one to construct this strange pyramid mausoleum.

  • Mr. Rogers’ grave, Unity Cemetery

    Latrobe, Pennsylvania

    The Grave of Mister Rogers

    The universally beloved children's television figure is interred on a high hilltop in one of western Pennsylvania's oldest cemeteries.

  • To Jane, My Wife.

    Brooklyn, New York

    The Tomb of Jane Griffith

    A heartbreaking monument showing the last morning in the life of Jane Griffith.

  • The Brooklyn Theatre Fire obelisk.

    Brooklyn, New York

    Brooklyn Theatre Fire Memorial

    A mass grave for victims of one of the city’s worst fires.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.