Consider this a place where art, history, and peaceful remembrance converge. This is Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Forest Lawn in Glendale has been a Southern California landmark since 1906. But it is more than just a cemetery.
Forest Lawn is the original Forest Lawn location. Businessmen founded it as a nonprofit. Later Dr. Hubert Eaton took over the management in 1917. He is considered the founder of the Forest Lawn Memorial Parks.
Eaton envisioned park-like cemeteries. They would be optimistic places celebrating life. He eliminated upright grave markers. He brought in works by established artists.
Now, let’s explore some of the extraordinary features of Forest Lawn. It has a world-renowned art museum. You can see exceptional statuary here. The Hall of the Crucifixion-Resurrection houses two of the largest religious paintings in the Western hemisphere.
Inside the Forest Lawn Museum, discover art exhibitions. They rotate twice yearly. The permanent collection includes bronze and marble sculptures. You can also find stained glass from William Randolph Hearst’s collection.
One of the most famous objects is William Bouguereau’s “Song of the Angels.” This oil painting depicts a mother and child asleep. Angels hover nearby.
Outside, the Court of David features a seventeen-foot-tall replica of Michelangelo’s David. The architectural inspiration comes from the Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence.
The Court of Freedom displays a mosaic rendition of John Trumbull’s “Signing of the Declaration of Independence.” It contains 700000 pieces of Venetian glass.
Before World War II, Forest Lawn commissioned a reproduction of Christus by Bertel Thorvaldsen. The original stands in Copenhagen.
The Great Mausoleum has eleven terraces and over 100 stained glass windows. It embodies an eclectic mix of architectural styles. Construction began in 1917. It finished in the 1970s.
Forest Lawn also features several churches. The Wee Kirk o’ the Heather is based on a village church in Scotland. The Little Church of the Flowers was inspired by an English village church. The Church of the Recessional reflects the Church of St. Margaret in England.
The Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection was designed to house Jan Styka’s painting, The Crucifixion. The design was inspired by the cathedral in Orvieto, Italy.
Remember that Forest Lawn Cemetery does not permit pictures inside their grounds. The office cites privacy issues of those interred.
Forest Lawn is not just a place of burial. It is a destination. It rivals P Pere-Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Forest Lawn is a place of art, architecture, and history. It is a testament to life and remembrance.