It’s a wrap: ‘Forever Marilyn’ is at its new forever location
The 'Forever Marilyn' statue was finally moved to a new permanent pedestal Wednesday.
For many, the 26-foot-tall sculpture is a cherished symbol of Palm Springs culture.
Crews lifted the 34,000-pound art piece into the air late Wednesday as onlookers watched in awe.
The official move to the new spot was complete by around 6:00 p.m., but as of 10:00 p.m., workers were continuing to weld and bolt the statue in place.
Several crews, including a crane operator, had been staged in the area ahead of the big transition since Monday. The beginning of the week was mostly spent conducting measurements and constructing the new platform, and Tuesday was used to conduct a 'test flight' to ensure all of the equipment was safe and the dimensions were correct. The sculpture was originally supposed to be moved on Tuesday, but some delays and re-measurements pushed the transition to Wednesday.
The crew was back on the scene early Wednesday morning to set up for the move, hoping all would go according to plan. Winds were a slight concern as they continued to pick up in the late morning, but workers made progress, securing the statue's torso and adjusting the platform.
'Forever Marilyn' didn't go too far away, in fact, she moved about 100 feet to the north of her former location, inside the park nearby.
The relocation comes after a three-year legal battle and a $500,000.00 price tag for the city. The lawsuit claimed the sculpture's placement illegally obstructed the road and a view of the Palm Springs Art Museum.
