Welcome to Forest Lawn Museum! Opened in 1952, the museum is home to rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection of painting, sculpture, stained glass, and more. Forest Lawn Memorial Park was founded in 1906, and it was among the earliest institutions in Southern California whose art collection was free and open to the public. Read more about the history of Forest Lawn below.
Mission Statement
The mission of Forest Lawn Museum is to enrich, inspire, and educate the community through the display of artwork, exhibits, and programs featuring history, culture, and religion.
Forest Lawn Architecture & Engineering Department, Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection and Forest Lawn Museum, Colored pencil on tracing paper, c. 1947, Collection of Forest Lawn Museum.
Art at Forest Lawn: A Brief History
Since the inception of Forest Lawn, art has been an important part of the institution. For many years, the artistic epicenter was the Great Mausoleum. Construction of this building began in 1917 and continued for more than five decades. In total it features eleven terraces, which are rendered in a number of architectural styles. The building includes more than one-hundred stained glass windows and dozens of bronze and marble sculptures. Many of the artworks are replicas of European masterpieces, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper and several statues by Michelangelo. These were commissioned with the goal of re-creating the “Grand Tour,” as travel to Europe in the 1920s and 1930s was prohibitively expensive and time consuming. While it could take weeks to travel abroad from Los Angeles, Forest Lawn gave Californians convenient access to monuments and masterpieces of European art and architecture.
Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, Forest Lawn’s art collection grew rapidly, and in the early 1950s an arts complex was conceived for the hilltop overlooking Glendale. The museum, which opened in 1952, is home to a collection of American and European bronze and marble sculptures, paintings, and stained glass windows. The Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection, which is located next to the museum, houses the largest painting in the Western United States. Measuring 195 feet by 45 foot, Jan Styka’s Crucifixion offers a detailed depiction of biblical events and a panoramic view of ancient Jerusaelm. The art collection continues throughout all six Forest Lawn Memorial Parks, which display beautiful statuary, stained glass, mosaics, and architecture. Originally conceived as a substitute for a trip abroad, Forest Lawn has become its own unique cultural destination.
Director’s Message
Whether you are looking for a place to sketch, a space for contemplation, or an opportunity to commune with art, Forest Lawn Museum has something for everyone. We strive to create a welcoming environment for all people as we serve Southern California’s many diverse communities. Forest Lawn Museum proudly offers free exhibitions and museum programming for families, school groups, churches, community groups, artists, and curious individuals.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are closed to the public until further notice. Forest Lawn Museum is closely monitoring state and county guidelines, and we look forward to reopening as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, we are offering free virtual content through Instagram and IGTV. Follow us @forestlawnmuseum today and let us know if there are any topics you would like us to cover. For a fun activity for all ages, download our 1962 coloring book. It includes 26 vintage pictures to brighten your day. Email your work to museum@forestlawn.com or tag us @forestlawnmuseum to be featured on our Instagram.
James Fishburne
Museum Director
