'Forever Marilyn' statue set to begin its move into Downtown Park on Sunday ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

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*A cement pad that will eventually hold the “Forever Marilyn” sculpture is seen inside Downtown Park on Wednesday afternoon.*

The “Forever Marilyn” sculpture on Museum Way in Downtown Palm Springs will begin its move to a new permanent location this week, marking the end of a contentious chapter in the city’s public art history.

As announced Thursday, the 26-foot statue will be transported less than 100 feet to Downtown Park. The moving process is expected to begin Sunday and conclude by Friday, Feb. 28.

The relocation comes after years of debate and legal challenges that have cost the city nearly $500,000, including $350,000 in legal fees following a settlement between the city and various stakeholders.

“We look forward to Forever Marilyn having a permanent home in Palm Springs so we can reflect on all the positive attention she brings to our community,” PS Resorts Chair Peggy Trott said in a statement released Thursday, noting that studies show it attracted more than 996,033 visitors in 2024.

The statue is also popular among city residents. A 2021 study by Moore Information Group showed that 86% of Palm Springs voters agreed it was valuable as a free attraction for visitors and residents and 75% believe it helps promote Palm Springs globally.

However, its placement sparked passionate debate within the community. Supporters celebrate its connection to Palm Springs’ Hollywood heritage, while critics argue it is sexist and inappropriate, particularly regarding its current location near the Palm Springs Art Museum.

The 17-ton steel and aluminum sculpture, created by artist Seward Johnson, recreates Monroe’s iconic scene from the 1955 film “The Seven Year Itch.” It depicts the moment her white dress billows up as she stands over a Manhattan subway grate.

An agreement to relocate the statue that was reached last summer was a compromise between The Committee to Relocate Marilyn (CReMa) and PS Resorts, the statue’s owners. The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed over the statue’s current location on Museum Way.

Then-Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein announced the relocation agreement in late July 2024, marking a departure from previous plans to permanently close Museum Way to accommodate the statue.

The sculpture’s journey in Palm Springs began in 2012 when it was first installed at Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way, where it remained for two years. It returned in June 2021 with an unveiling ceremony that drew more than 500 attendees.

Monroe’s connection to Palm Springs dates to 1949 when, at age 22, talent agent Johnny Hyde discovered her at Charlie Farrell’s Racquet Club. She later frequented the desert city in the 1950s with her husband, baseball star Joe DiMaggio.

The statue’s new location in Downtown Park, just to the north of where it currently stands, was selected to avoid having the city garage serve as a backdrop for the thousands of photographs taken of the statue annually.