GLENDALE, CA.- The Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection opened in 1951, and Forest Lawn Museum opened the following year. Held in conjunction with the 75th anniversaries of the two institutions, the exhibition “75 Years: Art Finds a Home at Forest Lawn” features never-before-exhibited photographs from the museum’s archive, newly discovered and remastered audio of the original Hall of the Crucifixion program, and beloved artworks, some of which have not been displayed for nearly a decade.
Forest Lawn Museum stewards the renowned collection of sculpture, painting, stained glass, mosaics, and architecture, which is spread across Forest Lawn’s six Southern California locations. The institution has one of the largest collections of stained glass in the United States, featuring sixteenth-century windows designed by Albrecht Drer and twenty-first-century windows by Narcissus Quagliata, a pioneer in fused glass. “75 Years” explores the evolution of Forest Lawn Museum, including the birth of the sculpture collection in the 1920s, art galleries in the Great Mausoleum from the 1940s, and the museum’s humble beginning as a memento shop. The exhibition also highlights the lesser-known figures who helped establish and develop the museum into what it is today.
Located next to Forest Lawn Museum, the Gothic-style Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection showcases two enormous paintings: The Crucifixion (195 x 45 feet) and The Resurrection (70 x 51 feet). The Crucifixion, painted by Polish artist Jan Styka in the 1890s, is the largest painting in the Western United States and the largest religious painting in America. Forest Lawn commissioned The Resurrection as a companion to The Crucifixion, and Robert Clark completed the painting in 1965. The exhibition sheds light on the history and pre-history of the Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection.
The audiovisual program, a perennial fixture of the Hall of Crucifixion-Resurrection, tells the remarkable story of how Styka’s painting was created as an immersive panorama and traveled around the world. Newly rediscovered and remastered recordings of the presentation show the evolution of the program, and demonstrate how Forest Lawn has been a pioneer in the field of multi-media displays that are educational and engaging for visitors of all ages.
The exhibition was a collaborative curatorial effort by the entire Forest Lawn Museum staff. Museum Director, James Fishburne, Ph.D., said “The 75th anniversary is a great opportunity to explore the museum archives and share some truly fascinating images and objects with the public.”
The exhibition will open in conjunction with “California Visionaries: The Lives and Legacies of Walt Disney and Hubert Eaton,” which explores the personal and creative relationship between these two men. It highlights the philosophical and artistic parallels that shaped their respective legacies and the iconic parks they created.
The opening reception for both exhibitions will be held on September 19, 2026, from 5:00–7:30 PM. The free event with include live music and remarks from the curators, as well as complimentary drinks, light snacks, and Dole Whip. Guests are invited to RSVP at museum@forestlawn.com, 323-340-4782, or the exhibition webpage.
