Step Inside the Free NYC Exhibit Revealing the Real Marilyn Monroe
Her real books, her address book open to Sinatra—see a new side of the bombshell actress
Key Takeaways
- See Marilyn Monroe's address book, personal typewriter and movie scripts.
- Explore a recreation of her library featuring her actual 200-book collection.
- View the famous yellow top, one of the final outfits Monroe ever wore.
If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping foot inside Marilyn Monroe’s library, now’s your chance! An exhibit dedicated to the beloved star just opened up in New York City and it’s filled with books the actress read, personal memos and even some outfits Monroe wore during her lifetime. To learn more about what’s at the exhibit and how to score tickets, keep reading.
What to know about the new Marilyn Monroe exhibit
On June 2, Genesis Motor announced the opening of the exhibit “Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon” to the public. It features newspaper articles about the starlet, as well as videos, voiceovers, quotes and, of course, photographs.
“’Manifesting Marilyn’ speaks to the courage required to imagine beyond expectation,” Tedros Mengiste, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis Motor North America said in a statement. “Marilyn’s story reminds us that icons are shaped through vision, discipline, resilience and the willingness to begin again. At Genesis, and through this latest installation at Genesis House, that ethos of becoming informs how we think about design, culture and hospitality, and how we create experiences that look forward with intention.”
One of the most anticipated parts of the exhibit is a rendition of Monroe’s library, which allows visitors to get a look at Monroe’s literary influences. This room features some books from Monroe’s own collection. Some of the highlights include The Miracles of Your Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy, Oh Careless Love by Maurice Zolotow and Of Stars and Men by Harlow Shapley. Other books Monroe loved that weren’t featured in the library include The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ulysses by James Joyce.
“She had at least 200 books on her shelves ranging from James Joyce’s Ulysses to Tom Paine’s Rights of Man,” Monroe’s friend Eve Arnold said. “She said she kept Ulysses in her car and had been reading it for a long time. She said she loved the sound of it and would read it aloud to herself.”
After checking out the library, visitors can step inside Monroe’s office, which features a typewriter, a desk, scripts and memos. It also includes the actress’ address book, open to the page featuring Frank Sinatra, who was one of Monroe’s closest friends. This part of the exhibit serves as a monument to Monroe’s production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, Inc. (MMP), which she founded in 1955 alongside fashion photographer Milton H. Greene.
“That was her way of achieving creative freedom,” Elizabeth Winder, author of Marilyn in Manhattan, told The Marilyn Report. “The studio owned her, and she knew that she couldn’t remain in that system, but she also didn’t want to give up acting. This was her way to be able to be the type of actress she knew she could be, and always wanted to be. There wasn’t really a way for her to do it in a smaller way.”
Once visitors are done in the office, they can head to Monroe’s vanity, which holds of some of her beauty products. Next to that is some of her clothing, including a yellow top—one of the last outfits Monroe was ever photographed in.
Finally, visitors can step into the movie room, which has pictures, videos and voiceovers from Monroe. “Marilyn has always represented far more than the image people project onto her,” actress Chloë Sevigny said in a statement. “What I find so compelling about ‘Manifesting Marilyn’ is how it honors her ambition and the agency she claimed in shaping her own story. It feels incredibly resonant today, and Genesis House creates a space that invites you to look closer and reflect on how icons and individuals are truly made.”
How to get tickets to ‘Manifesting Marilyn’
To get tickets to Manifesting Marilyn, simply head to the Genesis House in New York City. No tickets or reservations are required and the free exhibit is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to –7 p.m., until August 2, 2026.
“Seeing the world of Marilyn Monroe come to life through the vision of Genesis House provides a unique way for fans and new audiences alike to see her through a new and modern lens without being disruptive to her legacy,” Dana Carpenter, executive vice president, Entertainment at Authentic said in a statement. “This space reflects who she was beyond the image and allows each visitor to see her as a unique multifaceted individual who continues to make a generational impact.”
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