Marilyn Monroe’s legendary former home has narrowly escaped the threat of demolition, at least for the time being. This iconic property, where the Hollywood star once resided and met her tragic end at the age of 36 in 1962, still stands proudly in the prestigious Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Its existence was in peril when, on Tuesday, September 5, the Department of Building and Safety granted a demolition permit to its current owner, the Glory of the Snow Trust.
However, in a recent turn of events reported by The Los Angeles Times, a unanimous decision was reached during an L.A. City Council meeting on Friday, September 8, to temporarily halt the demolition permit. Glory of the Snow LLC initially purchased the home in 2017 for $7.25 million, only for a trust bearing the same name to acquire it for $8.35 million in July 2023. Surprisingly, less than two months after this purchase, they sought permission to raze the historic residence.
Following the meeting on Friday, the city promptly issued paperwork to the trust, outlining its intention to completely revoke the demolition permit. Over the next 75 days, L.A.’s Office of Historic Resources will conduct a series of assessments to determine whether Monroe’s Spanish-style dwelling should be safeguarded permanently and eventually designated as a historic site.
Councilmember Traci Park expressed regret over the issuance of the demolition permit, stating, “Unfortunately, the Department of Building and Safety issued a demolition permit before my team and I could fully intervene and get this issue resolved. This home must be preserved as a crucial piece of Hollywood’s and the city of Los Angeles’ history, culture, and legacy.”
Monroe acquired this 2,624-square-foot hacienda for $77,500 shortly after her divorce from playwright Arthur Miller in February 1962. When it was listed for sale in 2017, PEOPLE magazine reported that the stucco home, constructed in 1929, boasts four bedrooms, three baths, beamed ceilings, a serene courtyard, lush gardens, a swimming pool, and more.
In an interview with Life Magazine shortly before her untimely demise, Marilyn spoke affectionately of the property, particularly an apartment attached to her garage, describing it as “a place for any friends of mine who are in some kind of trouble.” She whimsically added, “Maybe they’ll want to live here where they won’t be bothered until things are okay for them.”
The property’s charm was also acknowledged by a reporter who had the privilege of touring it, prompting Marilyn’s response: “Good, anybody who likes my house, I’m sure I’ll get along with.”
Tragically, not long after that home tour, Marilyn Monroe passed away at the residence in August 1962. The blonde icon was discovered by her housekeeper, Eunice Murray, after she noticed a light on in Marilyn’s bedroom in the early hours of the morning. Her official cause of death, as determined by a coroner’s toxicology report, was acute barbiturate poisoning, resulting from an overdose of Nembutal (a medication commonly used for anxiety) and chloral hydrate (a sedative). Her death was classified as a suicide due to overdose, but the circumstances surrounding her final day remain shrouded in mystery, fueling numerous conspiracy theories of foul play.