Giant Marilyn statue comes down Monday

May 7, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Chicago says farewell to the giant Marilyn Monroe sculpture Monday.

The statue paying tribute to the screen goddess has towered over passersby at Pioneer Court on the Magnificent Mile since last summer.

It will be dismantled starting Monday. Four parts make up the sculpture -- the head, torso, skirt and legs, along with the base. It will take two days to remove it.

Marilyn is expected to packed up and shipped to Palm Springs, California, where she'll have a whole new audience of admirers to charm.

Chicagoans and visitors posed for last-minute pictures with the statue.

"I love her," Tia Whiteside of Gary, Ind., told ABC7. "Have my Marilyn shirt on and my wallet with her face on it ... We are just so sad to see her go."

"We are really going to miss her," said Jacquelyn Shattuck of Chicago, "because every time I get visitors, I bring them here."

The 26-foot tall sculpture has captured the attention of many.

"We would of liked for it to stay a little longer," said Federico Vega.

"I heard it was coming down today so I just had to come down to see it," said Barbara Gage.

The bronze and stainless steel 40,000-pound sculpture is on loan from the Sculpture Foundation.

The Zeller Realty group owns Pioneer Court and will continue to provide the space for large scale sculptures. They say Forever Marilyn has been a wonderful addition to the plaza.

"She has gotten so much press and so much attention, and she is photographed every single day of the year and people call me planning visits to Chicago just to see her," said Melissa Farrell Zeller Realty Group.

"I think she really looks cool here in the courtyard," said Audry Hatch, Texas visitor.

"Hopefully, California will love her just like we did," said Whiteside.

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