Smithsonian

One hundred years ago today, Norma Jeane Mortenson was born in Los Angeles, California. Not familiar with Norma Jeane’s work? You’ll probably know her by the name Marilyn Monroe.

Monroe was one of the brightest stars of the 1950s, appearing in films such as “The Seven Year Itch” (1955) and “Some Like It Hot” (1959). Determined to excel in her craft, Monroe was a dedicated student of famed “method acting” teacher Lee Strasberg at the Actor’s Studio.

She was also a successful singer. She recorded songs for various films, such as “A Little Girl from Little Rock” from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953). And in 1954 she went on a USO tour in South Korea, performing for over 100,000 servicemembers.

Though Monroe died at age 36 in 1962, her legacy supersedes her own filmography. Monroe’s life story has been memorialized in 50 years of films and television shows, first by Misty Rowe in 1976 film “Goodbye Norma Jean” and most recently by Ana De Armas in the 2022 film “Blonde.”

Photographs, memorabilia, and artistic renderings of Monroe are represented throughout the Smithsonian’s museums. To commemorate her 100th birthday, we are sharing just a few:

📷: Photograph of Marilyn Monroe by Milton H. Greene © Joshua Greene (National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution).

🎼: Sheet Music for the song “A Little Girl from Little Rock” from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. In the collection of our National Museum of American History.

🎙️: Two photographs of Marilyn Monroe by Daniel D. Geary on her 1954 USO tour of South Korea. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of David D. Geary. National Portrait Gallery USA

✉️: 32c Marilyn Monroe stamp, released on June 1, 1995. In the collection of our Smithsonian National Postal Museum. ©USPS; all rights reserved.