Where is Michael Jackson’s grave located and how can I visit the cemetery? Fans of the late King of Pop often ask these questions as they continue to deal with his death and think about how they might pay their respects to the iconic entertainer.
Keep reading to find out the answers. Spoiler alert: You can visit the cemetery where Michael Jackson is buried, but unless you have a family member entombed there, you won’t be allowed inside the mausoleum.
The decision about which cemetery to bury Michael Jackson in
Michael died on June 25, 2009 at his home in Los Angeles, California. For several days after, there was much media speculation about where he would be buried.
Many people thought Neverland Ranch was the perfect location, because it was a huge space that could allow fans from around the world to visit his grave. But some family members allegedly objected because the ranch held bad memories for Jackson after he was accused of molesting children there.
Initially, some internet gossip suggested that Michael had been buried in an unmarked grave at Westwood Memorial Cemetery in Hollywood, the same cemetery where Marilyn Monroe, Merv Griffin, and many other stars are buried. Some folks even went so far as to make a YouTube video showing the possible grave location, but those reports turned out to be false.
Where is Michael Jackson’s grave located?
Jackson is actually at Forest Lawn Cemetery. There are multiple Forest Lawn cemeteries in the Los Angeles area, including one in the Hollywood Hills. Some erroneous reports have linked Jackson to that Forest Lawn location. But reliable outlets report that Jackson is buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery located at 1712 S. Glendale Avenue in Glendale, California.
The singer is inside the Great Mausoleum, as shown on this property map. Fans can visit the cemetery itself, but in order to gain access to the mausoleum, security must buzz you inside. Unless you’re a close friend or family member on a specific list created by the Jackson family, you will not be granted access.
Attempts by fans to visit Michael Jackson’s grave
As noted above, you can’t actually make it to Michael’s final resting place. As much as you may be tempted to try, you’re probably better off making a donation to one of the many charities Jackson was involved with as a way to show your respects.
From time to time, fans do attempt to breach cemetery security and visit Jackson’s grave, but it never ends well. Two fans were recently kicked out of the mausoleum inside Forest Lawn Cemetery after trying such a stunt.
One writer claims he actually saw Michael Jackson’s tomb while visiting his own family member at the cemetery. There’s no way to corroborate the story, but you can check out his interesting write-up here.
On June 25, 2010, the one-year anniversary of Jackson’s death, the cemetery had plans to allow fans inside the mausoleum for the first time ever. But it turns out those fans weren’t given the kind of access they expected.
Michael Jackson’s Grave: Conclusion
While on one hand it’s unfortunate that fans won’t be able to visit Michael Jackson’s grave, at the same time it’s comforting that the King of Pop can rest in peace without the hordes of media and fans that swarmed him everywhere he went in life.
Additional sources:
http://www.forestlawn.com/About-Forest-Lawn/Locations-and-Directions-Glendale.asp
