Originally erected as a memorial for Christine Wetherill Stevenson, it is owned and maintained by The Church on the Way in Van Nuys.

[1] Erected in 1923, the original cross was a wooden structure built as a memorial to Christine Wetherill Stevenson, a philanthropist and founder of the Pilgrimage Theatre—now known as the Ford Amphitheatre.

Stevenson was instrumental in producing “The Pilgrimage Play,” a dramatization of the life of Jesus, performed at the amphitheater.

[3] The Hollywood Cross has survived various challenges, including vandalism, natural disasters, and legal disputes.

The cross was highlighted in the 2024 documentary “A Light in the Darkness,” which chronicles the monument’s 100-year history and its role in the cultural landscape of Hollywood.