Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) facts for kids
View from Griffith Park
|
|
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | March 1952 (parent company established in 1906 by Hubert L. Eaton) |
| Location |
Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|
| Type | Public |
| Owned by | Forest Lawn |
| No. of graves | 146,969 |
Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills is a special place in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It's one of six Forest Lawn cemeteries in Southern California. Many famous people are buried here.
Contents
A Look Back at Forest Lawn's History
The very first Forest Lawn cemetery opened in Glendale in 1906. Six years later, a man named Dr. Hubert L. Eaton joined the company. He had a unique vision for cemeteries.
Hubert Eaton's Vision
Dr. Eaton believed that most cemeteries looked sad and gloomy. He wanted to create a place that felt joyful and full of life, like a beautiful park. He imagined a park with tall trees, green lawns, sparkling fountains, and lovely statues. He wanted it to be a place that celebrated history and romance, not just death.
Building Hollywood Hills
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills is the second oldest of these special parks. Before it became a cemetery, some of the land was known as the Lasky Ranch. This ranch was used to film many early movies, including some of Charlie Chaplin's comedies.
In 1950, Dr. Eaton began building the new cemetery in Hollywood Hills. Winding roads were laid out among the hills, making it feel like a peaceful countryside retreat. The first buildings, like the mortuary and offices, were finished in 1951. The cemetery officially opened for burials on March 4, 1952.
Exploring the Features
Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills has several interesting areas with historical displays and beautiful art.
The Hall of Liberty
The Hall of Liberty is a grand building with statues of important American leaders.
- You can see statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson here.
- It also features the Birth of Liberty mosaic. This huge mosaic is 162 feet long and 28 feet high! It's made from ten million pieces of colorful glass. The mosaic shows 25 scenes from early American history, from 1619 to 1787.
- Inside, there's a replica of the Old North Church from Boston. This is the famous church from the poem "Paul Revere's Ride". You can also find historical documents from America's colonial period.
- The Hall of Liberty American History Museum has a copy of the Liberty Bell and other exhibits. It also has a large auditorium that can seat 1,200 people.
- There's a special Monument to Washington, a beautiful tribute to America's first president, created by sculptor Thomas Ball.
Lincoln Terrace
The Lincoln Terrace honors America's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln.
- Here, you'll find a 16-foot-tall bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln. It was made by a famous sculptor named Augustus St. Gaudens.
- Next to the statue is a large mosaic. It shows many important moments from Lincoln's life.
Plaza of Mesoamerican Heritage
The Plaza of Mesoamerican Heritage once displayed amazing sculptures from ancient Mexican civilizations.
- These sculptures were created by Meliton Salas Rodriguez from Guadalajara, Mexico.
- He used hand tools to carve native Mexican stone. The sculptures were detailed replicas of art and artifacts from civilizations like the Aztec, Maya, and Olmec.
- These artworks showed the rich history of Mexico before Spanish rule. They included a smooth Olmecan head, an intricate Aztec sun calendar, and a beautiful Teotihuacan bas relief.
- While these displays are not currently visible, they represented a unique part of the park's history.
Famous People Buried Here
Many well-known people, especially from the entertainment world, are buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills. You can find a longer list of these individuals in the article about interments at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).
See also
In Spanish: Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) para niños
- Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
- List of cemeteries in the United States
- San Fernando Valley
