You can't miss her. If you’re driving down Museum Way toward the Palm Springs Art Museum, she’s right there—26 feet of stainless steel and aluminum, weighing in at a massive 34,000 pounds. She’s towering. She’s iconic. And for a lot of people in town, she’s a total headache. The statue of Marilyn Monroe Palm Springs—officially titled Forever Marilyn—is probably the most debated piece of public art in Southern California.
It’s weird, right? You’d think a tribute to the most famous blonde in Hollywood history would be a slam dunk for a desert town built on mid-century glamour. But since she first rolled into town on the back of a flatbed truck, she’s been at the center of lawsuits, protests, and some pretty heated city council meetings.
The Legend of the Seven Year Itch
The statue captures that split second from the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. You know the one. Marilyn is standing over a subway grate in New York, and a passing train sends a blast of air up, swirling her white pleated dress around her waist.
Artist Seward Johnson created this gargantuan version in 2011. It’s not just a statue; it’s a physical landmark. When you stand next to her heels, you realize just how massive the scale is. Her head is way up in the San Jacinto Mountains breeze.
Palm Springs loves its history. Marilyn supposedly spent a lot of time here. Local lore says she was "discovered" by talent agent Johnny Hyde at the Racquet Club in 1949. Whether that's 100% historically accurate or just good marketing is up for debate, but the town has claimed her as its own.
Why People are Actually Mad
It isn’t just about art appreciation. Most of the drama surrounding the statue of Marilyn Monroe Palm Springs is about where she’s standing.
Specifically, she’s blocking the view.
The Palm Springs Art Museum is a gorgeous piece of brutalist architecture designed by E. Stewart Williams. It’s a protected Class 1 Historic Site. When the city decided to place Marilyn right in the middle of the street leading up to the museum, the architectural community lost its mind. Groups like CReMa (Committee to Relocate Marilyn) formed almost overnight. They argued that plopping a giant, kitschy statue in front of a serious museum was like putting a "kick me" sign on a masterpiece.
Then there’s the "upskirt" factor. Because the statue is 26 feet tall and depicts her dress flying up, tourists naturally gravitate toward the back of the statue to take photos of her undergarments. Critics, including former museum directors like Louis Grachos, have called it sexist and exploitative. They argue it’s not the vibe a modern, sophisticated city should be projecting.
"It’s basically sanctioned voyeurism," one local told me during a protest back in 2021. People feel strongly. Very strongly.
The Great Relocation Saga
Marilyn hasn't always been here. She’s a traveler.
She first arrived in Palm Springs in 2012 for a temporary stay. People loved her. Or at least, the business owners did. Foot traffic skyrocketed. When her lease was up in 2014, she headed off to New Jersey and then Australia. But the local hospitality group, PS Resorts, missed the revenue. They fought to bring her back permanently.
It took years of negotiating. They eventually bought the statue for something like $1 million. In 2021, she made her grand return. But the legal battles didn't stop. A group of residents sued the city, claiming Palm Springs didn't have the right to close a public street (Museum Way) for a private statue.
The California Court of Appeals actually ruled in favor of the activists at one point, saying the city overstepped its bounds. For a minute, it looked like Marilyn might have to pack her bags again.
Why She’s Still Standing
Money talks.
Honestly, if you go downtown on a Tuesday morning, the area around the statue is packed. People love taking that photo. It’s the ultimate Instagram bait. For the hotels and restaurants nearby, Marilyn is a goldmine. She brings in thousands of people who might otherwise just stay by the pool at their resort.
There’s a weird tension in Palm Springs right now. On one side, you have the "Old Guard" and the design nerds who want to preserve the clean lines and dignity of the mid-century modern aesthetic. On the other, you have the tourism board that needs "The Gram" to keep the lights on.
As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, a compromise was reached. The city and the activists finally settled. The plan? Move her. But not far. She’s expected to be shifted slightly to a nearby park area so the street can reopen and the "view corridor" to the museum is restored. It’s a classic small-town politics solution—nobody is perfectly happy, but the lawsuits stop.
Tips for Visiting Without the Crowds
If you’re going to see the statue of Marilyn Monroe Palm Springs, timing is everything.
- Sunrise is King: If you want a photo without thirty other people in the shot, get there at 6:30 AM. The light hits the San Jacinto mountains behind her, and it's actually pretty beautiful.
- Village Fest: Avoid Thursday nights unless you love crowds. The street fair happens right there, and it becomes a mosh pit of kettle corn and tourists.
- The Museum Connection: Do yourself a favor and actually go inside the Palm Springs Art Museum while you’re there. It’s world-class. Seeing the contrast between the pop-culture statue outside and the contemporary art inside is the full Palm Springs experience.
The statue is located at the intersection of Museum Way and Belardo Road. You can't miss it. Literally.
✨ Don't miss: Bed of Roses Bed and Breakfast: What Most People Get Wrong About Staying Here
What This Means for the Future of the City
The saga of the Marilyn statue says a lot about where Palm Springs is going. The city is evolving from a quiet retirement community for Hollywood legends into a massive global destination. That transition is messy.
When you look at the statue, you aren't just looking at a giant movie star. You're looking at the struggle between commercial success and artistic integrity. You’re looking at a town trying to figure out its identity. Is it a museum of mid-century design? Or is it a giant, sunny playground?
It's probably both.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
To make the most of your trip and navigate the local vibes around the statue of Marilyn Monroe Palm Springs, follow these specific steps:
- Check the Current Location Status: Before you book your trip, check the local Palm Springs news or the "PS Resorts" social media pages. The planned relocation to the adjacent park may affect access or fencing around the statue.
- Park Strategically: Don't try to park on Museum Way. Use the free parking structure on Indian Canyon Drive or the public lots near the Hyatt. It’s a two-minute walk and saves you the stress of the one-way street loops.
- Respect the Museum Entrance: If you are taking photos, be mindful of the museum's entrance. Security and staff are often frustrated by tourists blocking the main doors for the "perfect angle."
- Explore the "Marilyn Trail": If you’re a fan, head over to the Palm Springs Historical Society. They offer walking tours that include the houses where she actually stayed, which provides a much-needed factual counterpoint to the giant statue.
- Voice Your Opinion: If you feel strongly about the art, the city council meetings are still open to the public. Palm Springs is a town that actually listens to its visitors, and the debate over public art is far from over.
The statue is a permanent resident now. Whether she’s an eyesore or a masterpiece depends entirely on who you ask, but she’s undeniably a part of the city's DNA.