Marilyn Monroe’s legendary flesh-colored gown, worn during her famous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” performance for John F. Kennedy, will be on public display at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Grand Prairie starting Friday, June 5.
The limited-time exhibit coincides with what would have been Monroe’s 100th birthday. The sparkling Jean Louis-designed dress, encrusted with thousands of hand-sewn rhinestones, is considered one of the most famous garments in American pop culture history.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! purchased the dress at auction in 2016 for $4.8 million, setting a record at the time as the most expensive dress ever sold. The artifact has been part of Ripley’s collection and has occasionally been loaned for special exhibitions. In 2022, the company loaned it to Kim Kardashian for the Met Gala in New York, where it drew worldwide attention.
The gown will be showcased at the Grand Prairie location of Ripley’s for a limited run. Visitors will be able to view the historic piece up close as part of the attraction’s special programming honoring Monroe.
The dress remains a powerful symbol of mid-century glamour, Hollywood stardom, and one unforgettable moment in presidential history. Monroe performed the breathy rendition of “Happy Birthday” on May 19, 1962, at a Democratic fundraiser at Madison Square Garden in New York, just months before her death.
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