Historic Structures and Buildings for Motion Picture Locations
Great for period, maritime, westerns films and background scenery shots.
Name: Monterey State Historic Park
Features: Monterey State Historic Park served as California's capital under Spanish, Mexican and U.S. rule. Ten buildings, including the Custom House, built in 1827, and California's First Theatre (1846-47), and several residences (now museums) built in the 1830s. This park offers a glimpse into California’s rich and colorful history.
Travel: From San Jose (SJC) Airport 74 miles ~ Drive Time 1 hour, 22 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=575
Name: Pigeon Point Lightstation
Features: Standing at a majestic 115 feet tall the Pigeon Point Lightstation is one of the tallest in America. It was constructed back in 1872 and sits atop a cliff on the Central Coast showcasing beautiful grounds and a piece of maritime history.
Travel: From San Francisco (SFO) 39 miles ~ Drive Time 1 hour, 12 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=533
Name: Fort Humboldt Historic Park
Features: The fort, built in1853, offers many scenic views as it is situated on a bluff overlooking Humboldt Bay. It also contains an open air display of mid 19th-20th century logging equipment.
Travel: From San Francisco (SFO) Airport 281 ~ Drive Time 5 hours approx.
From Rogue Valley Int'l Airport-Medford, Oregon 196 miles ~
Drive Time 3 hours, 40 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=665
Name: Point Montara Lightstation
Features: Built in 1875, the Point Montara Lightstation is 25 miles south of San Francisco on the California Coast. The lighthouse and all surrounding buildings have been restored and preserved to add to the scenic views that inspire visitors.
Travel: From San Francisco (SFO) Airport 20 miles ~ Drive Time 34 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=534
Name: Pacheco State Park
Features: Among the historic features of Pacheco State Park are an old line shack used by Henry Miller’s cattle company in the 1800s, part of the old Butterfield Stage line route, and the remains of the original Pacheco adobe. Pacheco has scenic views of the Central and Santa Clara Valleys and offers trails for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking situated throughout the park.
Travel: From San Jose (SJC) Airport 55 miles ~ Drive Time 1 hour, 5 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=560
Name:
Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay State Park
Features: Vikingsholm is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere. This spectacular mansion was built in the late 1920’s at the head of Emerald Bay.
Two hundred workers were brought to Emerald Bay and started hand hewing the timbers, carving the intricate designs, hand planing the wood for the interior walls, and forging the hinges and latches. The interior of the home has paintings on some of the ceilings and walls and two intricately carved dragon beams and six fireplaces.
Travel: From Sacramento (SMF) Airport 121 miles ~ Drive Time 1 hour, 55 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1158
Name: Benicia Capitol Historic Park
Features: Benicia Capitol State Historic Park is the site of California’s third seat of government (1853-54.) It is the only pre-Sacramento capitol that survives. The original building has been restored with reconstructed period furnishings and exhibits. The interior includes a board-for-board reconstruction of the building’s original floor with ponderosa pine. It is the only pre-Sacramento capitol to survive.
Travel: From Oakland (OAK) Airport 39 miles ~ Drive Time 52 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=475
Name: Railtown 1897 Historic Park
Features: Located in Jamestown, approximately 100 miles southeast of Sacramento, this park features historic Jamestown shops and Roundhouse (a functioning repair and maintenance facility.) The park also features train excursions at various times of the year.
Travel: From Sacramento (SMF) Airport 122 miles ~
Drive Time 2 hours, 27 minutes
Website: www.parks.ca.gov/railtown
Name: Fort Ross Historic Park
Features: This park was a thriving Russian-American Company settlement in the early 1800’s. It served as the site of California’s first windmills and shipbuilding. There are many reconstructed buildings that depict day to day life in this early California fort.
Travel: From San Francisco (SFO) 102 miles ~ Drive Time is 2 hours, 27 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=449
Name: Colonel Allensworth Historic Park
Features: This park was a small farming community founded in 1908 by Colonel Allensworth. This is a unique park that includes restored and reconstructed buildings including a schoolhouse, a church, businesses, homes, a hotel, a library, and various other structures of an independent, democratic town where African Americans lived in the early 1900’s.
Travel: From Bakersfield (BFL) Meadows Field Airport 32 miles ~ Drive Time 36 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=583
Name: Jack London Historic Park
Features: This park was the home of Author Jack London and contains the cottage residence where he wrote books, articles, short stories etc. The grounds contain many trails that lead to various structures and natural settings that inspired the author.
Travel: From San Francisco (SFO) Airport 62 miles ~ Drive Time 1 hour, 26 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=478
Name: Ehrman Mansion
in Sugar Pine Point State Park
Features: The mansion is located in Sugar Pine Point State Park amongst a grove of pine and cedar trees. It was home to the Ehrman and Hellman families and offers a glimpse of the lifestyles of the wealthy in Lake Tahoe.
Travel: From Sacramento (SMF) Airport 132 miles ~ Drive Time 2 hours, 10 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=510
Name: Bidwell Mansion Historic Park
Features: This beautiful Victorian Mansion serves as a memorial to John and Annie Bidwell. The three story, 26 room structure contained the most modern plumbing, water systems and gas lighting for the era in which it was constructed.
Travel: From Sacramento (SMF) Airport 86 miles ~ Drive Time 2 hours
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=460
Name: Malibu Pier
Features: Malibu Pier is a Southern California icon in an area once called the "Riviera of America.” The historic landmark is located in the heart of California’s surf culture. New restaurants offering classic seaside dishes complement the pier’s beautiful coastal location and the rich history of Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Malibu Lagoon contains the Malibu pier and is also home to the Adamson House (a National Historic Site).
Travel: From Los Angeles (LAX) Airport 27 miles ~ Drive Time 39 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24409
Name: Old San Diego Historic Park
Features: This park recreates life from the Mexican and early American periods from 1821 to 1872. There are 5 original adobes that are part of the historical complex as well as various restaurants and shops.
Travel: From San Diego (SAN) Airport 15 miles ~ Drive Time 25 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=663
Name: Columbia Historic Park
Features: The town's old Gold Rush-era business district has been preserved, with shops, restaurants and two Victorian hotels. Visitors have the chance to time-travel to the Gold Rush era of the1850s, imagining life when gold miners rubbed shoulders with businessmen and the other residents in Columbia. There are opportunities to ride a 100 year-old stagecoach, pan for gold, or tour an active gold mine.
Travel: From Sacramento (SMF) Airport 129 miles ~ Drive Time 2 hours, 39 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=552
Name: San Clemente State Beach Historic Cottage
Features: The Historic Cottage provides the visitors a glimpse of a unique architecture, as well as the lifestyle and time period of the 1930s.
Travel: From John Wayne Airport (SNA) Santa Ana 28 miles ~
Drive Time 39 minutes
Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=646
Name: California State Capitol Building
Features: The California State Capitol Museum is the name given to the grounds and buildings of the California State Capitol building. Visitors can tour the restored historic offices of the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Governor of California. The building features rare artworks, statues, and historical collections. There are 40 acres of gardens in the surrounding Capitol Park.
Capitol Park has trees from around the world and memorials including the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial, with life-size bronze figures of service men and women featuring engravings of names of Californians killed or missing in action. The California State Capitol Museum’s historic rooms and park open space maybe used for motion picture filming with permission of the Senate Rules Committee and California Highway Patrol. This building has been home to the California legislature since 1869.
Travel: From Sacramento (SMF) Airport 20 miles ~ Drive Time 25 minutes
Website: www.capitolmuseum.ca.gov