It’s a sad day for anyone interested in the history of Hollywood and the preservation of old buildings. The New York Post broke the story that the new owner of the 1920s Spanish hacienda-style house at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood plans to tear it down.

In 1962, the 2,600 square foot bungalow became famous around the world as the site of Marilyn Monroe’s untimely death. The legendary actress’s only home is a walled and gated half-acre estate that has become a city landmark in the six decades since she last lived there. Lindsay Blake, a blogger, had previously published a lengthy post about the property, which included many interesting anecdotes, such as the fact that Monroe had a plaque above the front door that read “Cursom Perificio” in Latin. This is the final stop on my journey.

Monroe’s Brentwood house is a sprawling single-story hacienda.Getty Images

The exterior of the house has changed very little since it was built in 1962, but the interior has been completely renovated. The kitchen, bathrooms, and the estate’s separate guest casita have all been updated to modern standards, and the casita has been integrated into the main house. Casement windows, terracotta tile floors, and wood-beamed ceilings are just a few of the many original features that happily harken back to the Golden Age.

The backyard features a large swimming pool surrounded by tall hedges, mature trees, and a citrus orchard, all accessible via a brick patio. The front of the house is adorned with arching bougainvillea plants, and there’s space for two cars in the attached garage.

The half-acre property sits just a quick jog south of Sunset Boulevard.Mercer Vine

The neighborhood around Monroe’s old house has seen an uptick in demolitions as skyrocketing property values and record-breaking sales have encouraged developers to construct ever larger and fancier structures. The fact that this particular hacienda has stood the test of time is a tribute to both Monroe’s legendary status and the property’s enduring allure.

The Monroe estate was purchased by Dan Lukas, manager of the Emerald Lake hedge fund, and his wife, Anne Jarmain, for $7.3 million in 2014. The couple recently purchased a larger home in the same area for $13 million.

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Lukas and Jarmain sold their Monroe home in secret to an unnamed buyer last month. This individual purchased the property for nearly $8.4 million in cold hard cash and promptly submitted an application for a demolition permit. Although a formal permit has not yet been issued, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has recently approved the request for a “plan check” of the proposed work.

However, if recent precedent is any indication of what the future holds for this property, the Monroe hacienda will likely join the ranks of other historically significant properties that have been lost.