The Cemetery Where the Stars Rest
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, sitting right on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, is packed with history and culture. Known as the final resting place for numerous cinema icons, this historic cemetery offers a unique look into the glamorous past of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. It is also a quiet, peaceful spot right in the middle of a high-energy urban core.
Over a Century of Hollywood
Founded in 1899 and originally called Hollywood Memorial Park, Hollywood Forever Cemetery spans 39 hectares. It was established by Isaac Lankershim and Isaac Van Nuys, two major figures in the region's agricultural and real estate development.
Over the decades, the cemetery became the burial site of choice for Hollywood stars, directors, screenwriters, and other film industry figures. Following a period of neglect, the cemetery was revitalized in the 1990s by Tyler Cassity, who modernized the facilities while preserving its cultural heritage.
Today, it functions as much as a park as it does a celebration of life and art.
A Fresh Start
Hollywood Forever is now a dynamic cultural site. It hosts events like outdoor movie screenings, concerts, and festivals. Visitors can explore monuments and mausoleums dedicated to figures like Johnny Ramone, Cecil B. DeMille, and Joe Dassin. Guided tours detail the stories of its famous residents and the motion picture industry.
The central lake and lush gardens provide a quiet setting that contrasts with the surrounding city energy. Restoration and preservation efforts have maintained the historic elegance of the cemetery, turning it into a place of memory and cultural discovery.
Opening hours
| Monday | 08:30-17:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 08:30-17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:30-17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:30-17:00 |
| Friday | 08:30-17:00 |
| Saturday | 08:30-16:30 |
| Sunday | 08:30-16:30 |
A beautiful cemetery, calm and green, where you can admire the graves of Rudolph Valentino or Judy Garland.
It is quite large, and it would deserve to have maps here and there to better figure out where the sought-after graves are, but since they sell maps for $6, it is unlikely to happen.
In any case, it is really quiet and pleasant.
Too bad, when we were there, the mausoleum was closed, we would have liked to be able to visit the inside.