Famed musician and scarf-fanatic Jimi Hendrix died on September 18th, 1970 after overdosing on prescription drugs and the beloved artist was buried in a simple family grave in the same Washington cemetery as his mother. However this was not quite enough for his family or his fans.
After his death, Hendrix's father, Al, had his son buried in a section of Greenwood Cemetery set aside for the family. A man of no great means, Jimi's burial site was marked with a simple grave that seemed incongruous with the musician's legacy. Nonetheless the unremarkable headstone became a magnet for his legions of devoted fans passing through Renton.
With the constant traffic and Al's continued wish to create a memorial befitting his son's remarkable life, it quickly became apparent that the small marker would not suffice forever. However it was not until Al finally retained the rights to his son's musical catalogue in 1995, that plans began to expand Hendrix's monument. Over the next few years the marble gazebo that can be found today was built and Jimi's body was finally reburied beneath it in 2002.
The memorial consists of a stone dome held up by a trio of pillars. Within the monument is an etched portrait of Hendrix alongside frescos of some of his lyrics as well as the original headstone, which has been remounted. The family plots now surround the memorial which is also fitted with a stone sundial just outside the entrance.
