World's Most Expensive Dress Comes to Ripley's Believe It or Not! in San Francisco

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See Marilyn Monroe's Iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" Dress

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Aug 03, 2017, 16:58 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For a limited time, you can see the iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress that Marilyn Monroe wore on May 19, 1962, when she famously sang to President John F. Kennedy for his 45th birthday at Madison Square Garden. The dress will be on display for a month-long engagement at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium located at 175 Jefferson St., Fisherman's Wharf.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! unveils the world's most expensive dress, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 in San Francisco. The dress was custom made for Marilyn Monroe for President John F. Kennedy's birthday gala on May 19, 1962. The "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" is the world's most expensive dress purchased at auction for over $5 million. (Eric Kayne/AP Images for Ripley's Believe It or Not!)

On November 17, 2016, Ripley's Believe It or Not! set a new Guinness World Record for the most expensive dress sold at auction when they acquired the dress from Julien's Auctions for a staggering $4.8 million.

Add in auction fees, and the dress cost over $5 million, making it the most expensive dress in the world.

"This is the most famous item of clothing in twentieth-century culture," says Edward Meyer, VP of Exhibits & Archives for Ripley's Believe It or Not!. Meyer has been acquiring items for Ripley's for over 39 years and placed the winning bid on the dress. "It has the significance of Marilyn, of JFK, and of American politics."

Along with the dress, other items from Kennedy's birthday gala will be on display, including an original program of the event, ticket stub, gala poster, and autographed tiles with Monroe's signature.

Monroe has ties to San Francisco. She married baseball legend Joe DiMaggio on January 14, 1954, at San Francisco's City Hall.

The dress will be on display for a very limited month-long engagement, starting on Thursday, August 3, and leaving after Labor Day on September 5.

For more information, visit Ripleys.com/SanFrancisco

MEDIA CONTACT

Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment
[email protected]
Office: 407-345-8010 | Cell: 727-439-0136

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