A piece of Hollywood history is on display in North Texas as Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in Grand Prairie marks what would have been the 100th birthday of screen legend Marilyn Monroe.
The limited-time exhibition, which opened June 5, features Monroe’s famed “Happy Birthday” dress, worn during her memorable 1962 performance of “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” for John F. Kennedy.
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, Monroe became one of the most recognizable figures in entertainment history. The flesh-colored gown, designed by Jean Louis, is adorned with more than 6,000 hand-sewn rhinestones and remains one of the most famous garments in popular culture.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! acquired the dress at auction in 2016 for $4.8 million, setting a record at the time as the most expensive dress ever sold at auction.
“Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most recognizable icons in pop culture history,” said Ripley Entertainment Regional Manager Rachel Rotella, according to Secret Dallas
The exhibition coincides with the centennial of Monroe’s birth and offers visitors a close look at historic dress, along with memorabilia from her life and career.
The gown gained worldwide attention in 1962 when Monroe wore it during her performance at Madison Square Garden. The dress was originally created to shimmer under stage lights, helping create one of the most enduring images in entertainment history.
In recent years, the gown returned to the international spotlight when reality television star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian wore it briefly at the 2022 Met Gala in New York. The event, themed around American fashion history, sparked widespread debate among fashion historians, museum professionals, and conservation experts over whether historic garments should ever be worn once they enter museum collections.
Critics argued that wearing such a fragile artifact risked damaging a one-of-a-kind piece of cultural history, while supporters contended that the appearance helped introduce Monroe’s legacy to a new generation. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, which owns the dress, maintained that preservation remained its top priority. The company said the gown was closely monitored by handlers at all times and that Kardashian wore the original dress only briefly before changing into a replica.
Ripley’s also noted that a 2017 condition report documented existing wear, including stressed seams and puckering in delicate areas, and denied claims that Kardashian had damaged the garment.
The controversy ultimately underscored the dress’s enduring cultural significance. More than six decades after Monroe famously wore it while singing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy in 1962, the rhinestone-covered gown continues to generate discussion about celebrity, fashion history, and how best to preserve iconic pieces of American culture.
Admission to the exhibit is included with entry to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Grand Prairie, where guests can also explore hundreds of unusual artifacts, interactive displays, and rare collectibles.
The exhibit is being presented for a limited time, giving fans of Monroe, classic Hollywood, and pop culture an opportunity to view one of the most recognizable pieces of entertainment memorabilia ever created.
