Forest Lawn Memorial Parks

Forest Lawn Memorial Parks, place of burial established in southern California, U.S., in the early 20th century as an alternative to traditional cemeteries.

The Forest Lawn Memorial Parks introduced a new type of cemetery, designed to be uplifting and a place of joyous remembrance. The use of themed areas and highly landscaped settings, incorporating sculpture and memorial architecture, set a new precedent in cemetery design.

The original Forest Lawn Memorial Park was in Glendale, California, and was set up in 1906 by a number of businessmen as a nonprofit organization. In 1917 Dr. Hubert Eaton took over the management of the parks, and it was under his directorship that they took shape; for this reason he is considered the “founder” of the Forest Lawn Memorial Parks. His vision was for large park-like cemeteries as optimistic places filled with a sense of celebrating life and remembering history. He did away with traditional upright gravestones and instead introduced plaques and statues, many of which are copies of famous works of art, including Michelangelo’s David and Moses.

The parks are dotted with nondenominational chapels and architectural features of a memorial and patriotic nature, including The Court of Liberty, The Hall of Liberty American History Museum, The Lincoln Terrace, and the Monument to Washington. The parks are divided into areas, such as the heart-shaped Babyland (for infants), Eventide, Graceland, and Dawn of Tomorrow. The parks offer different burial “packages,” catering to all levels of income. Among those buried here are a number of Hollywood stars, including Lucille Ball, Buster Keaton, Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher, John Ritter, and Andy Gibb.