national treasure movie tour washington dc

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Inspired by their first joint visit to the nation's capital in 2015, Aubrey Paris and Emily Black are leading National Treasure Hunters on informal walking tours of downtown Washington, D.C. Their route and activities showcase key filming and story locations featured in the National Treasure movies. Learn more about the tour in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

The National Treasure Hunt Tour runs one weekend each spring and fall. Check back frequently for updated tour dates and sign-up instructions, or join our mailing list to be notified when dates are announced.

Note: National Treasure Hunt is able to accommodate a limited number of private tours each year. Visit the FAQs section below for details regarding how to send a private tour inquiry.

Sign-ups for the spring 2024 National Treasure Hunt Tour are closed. Check back frequently or join our mailing list for new tour date announcements!

Guided by National Treasure Hunt hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black, the walking tour route includes*:

U.S. National Archives (optional indoor visit available)

Library of Congress (optional indoor visit available)

Lincoln Memorial & Reflecting Pool

U.S. Capitol Building & Reflecting Pool

Jefferson Memorial & Tidal Basin

Washington Monument

*Subject to change. Tour stops are outdoors unless otherwise indicated. The tour runs rain or shine, unless unsafe weather is expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Send a message using our contact form, or reach out to us on Twitter or Instagram.

The National Treasure Hunt Tour is, first and foremost, an opportunity to meet other National Treasure fans and experience Washington, D.C., through the lens of a beloved film franchise. Over one day, attendees will visit numerous sites of filming and plot significance to both National Treasure movies (see route above). This includes optional indoor visits at the U.S. National Archives and the Library of Congress.

While walking from location to location, attendees will partake in informal polls, discussions, and other fun activities related to National Treasure . Tour route, locations, and indoor visits are subject to change and based on availability.

The National Treasure Hunt Tour involves a substantial amount of walking. The route is approximately 4 miles long, not including in-tour activities and optional visits inside the U.S. National Archives and Library of Congress. Several stops will be made to allow for rest, photographs, and activities during the walk. 

Disclaimer: Attendees participate in the National Treasure Hunt Tour at their own risk and agree that the hosts are not responsible for any injuries sustained through participation.

The full-day National Treasure Hunt Tour costs $50 per person, though National Treasure Hunt Patreon members at the "Ben" tier receive a discount. Attendees will be asked to pay in advance of their tour date (i.e., after registering). This non-refundable attendance fee helps the hosts pay for the materials, props, and other preparations needed to make the tour possible. The fee does not go toward optional entry at the U.S. National Archives or the Library of Congress, as entry at these locations is free.  

While not required, if you are interested, consider wearing your favorite National Treasure Hunt shirt from our merch store during the tour (matching shirts look great in group photos!).

Please note that attendees are responsible for planning and paying for their own travel to, from, and within Washington, D.C., as well as lodging and meals during their stay. 

Check back frequently for our next tour date announcement.

(For future tours: When tour dates are announced, we'll post a sign-up form right here on our website, and members of our mailing list will receive an email notification.)

Simply fill out the sign-up form, wait for your confirmation email with instructions for paying your registration fee, and then start planning your travel! We will send additional communications with more details as the date draws nearer.

Given the long tour route and multiple opportunities for indoor site visits, the one-day tour lasts most of the morning and afternoon (e.g., 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; subject to change). The tour will pause for approximately one hour to allow attendees to eat lunch. 

It's up to you! There are lots of cool things to see and do in and around Washington, D.C. Consider exploring downtown spots that you'd like to see featured in National Treasure 3 , like the Smithsonian museums, U.S. Capitol building, or Embassy Row. We also recommend visiting* a few additional National Treasure -relevant locations situated nearby, all of which are easily found on Google Maps:

• The White House
• Eisenhower Executive Office Building
• Ford's Theatre
• J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building
• Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence
• The Watergate Hotel
• George Washington's Mount Vernon

*Note that "visiting" some of these locations likely means viewing from the outside!

No. At this time, there is no formal "treasure hunt" component to the National Treasure Hunt Tour. 

National Treasure Hunt will accommodate a limited number of weekend private tours each year; these tours follow the same route as the semi-annual group tours and include modified versions of group tour activities. The non-refundable attendance fee is $100 per attendee (to be paid after the private tour date is confirmed by National Treasure Hunt ). To inquire about the possibility of scheduling a private tour, send us a contact form message with your desired weekend tour date and number of guests. Please note that while we cannot guarantee availability for private tours, we will be more likely to accommodate your request if you provide several date options.

As is the case for our semi-annual group tours, the non-refundable private tour attendance fee helps the hosts pay for the materials, props, and other preparations needed to make the tour possible. The fee does not go toward optional entry at the U.S. National Archives or the Library of Congress, as entry at these locations is free.  

Please note that private tour attendees are responsible for planning and paying for their own travel to, from, and within Washington, D.C., as well as lodging and meals during their stay. 

Washington, D.C., can be reached easily by car, train, or plane. The closest airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, while Dulles International Airport is located approximately 30 minutes away (by car) in Dulles, Virginia. Amtrak trains can be accessed at Washington Union Station just north of the U.S. Capitol building.

After you've arrived, there are several options for getting around Washington, D.C., and the surrounding suburbs. WMATA metro and bus lines are tourist-friendly and can be used to reach most common destinations (including the National Mall). For out-of-the-way locations, including George Washington's Mount Vernon, self-driving  or using ride-share services, such as Uber or Lyft, is recommended.

There are many hotels, Airbnbs, and other lodging options located in and around Washington, D.C. Attendees who fly into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport may consider the wide range of airport hotels located adjacent to the airport in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia.

National Treasure Hunt is an independent entity and is not affiliated with the Disney company. Attendees participate in the National Treasure Hunt Tour at their own risk. Photographs of attendees may be taken and published on National Treasure Hunt 's social media profiles and/or website; attendees are responsible for communicating with the hosts if they do not want their photograph taken during the tour.

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Copyright © 2024 National Treasure Hunt LLC - All Rights Reserved. National Treasure Hunt LLC is an independent entity and is not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company.

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Home > Films > N > National Treasure

Tuesday April 16th 2024

National Treasure | 2004

• Locations |
• Washington DC ;
• Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ;
• Los Angeles , California
• Jon Turteltaub
• Nicolas Cage,
• Diane Kruger,
• Justin Bartha,
• Jon Voight,
• Harvey Keitel,
• Christopher Plummer

While high-minded symbologist Robert Langdon went in search of the Holy Grail, down-to-earth historian Ben Franklin Gates ( Nicolas Cage ) solves a series of cryptic clues to find the earthly treasure of the Knights Templar, keeping one step ahead of his one-time backer turned ruthless competitor Ian Howe ( Sean Bean ).

For the backstory, told by to Ben by his grandfather ( Christopher Plummer ), the ‘White House’, of 1832 is the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Constitution Hall, 1776 D Street NW . Coincidentally, the Hall provided the interior of the present-day ‘White House’ in Transformers: Dark Of The Moon .

A mysterious clue leads the grown up Ben Gates to the ‘Arctic’, where ‘Charlotte’ turns out to be a ship buried in ice. The snowy wastes were filmed at Chicken Creek West on the northern shore of the frozen Strawberry Reservoir , off I-40 southeast of Heber City in Utah where, for once, the weather co-operated and obligingly cloaked the set in a blanket of snow.

To get a suitably frosty appearance for the bowels of the ship, the interior was built inside the huge freezer of the Union Ice Company in Van Nuys , Los Angeles .

Discovering that the next clue may is probably written on the reverse of the Declaration of Independence, Ben has something of a disagreement with his associate when he realises the determined Howe has set his sights on the grabbing the precious document.

Ben hares off to Washington DC to warn the authorities that the priceless antiquity may be under threat.

Along with his pal Riley ( Justin Bartha ), he gets short shrift from the FBI at the J Edgar Hoover FBI Building, 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, downtown Washington DC , one of several locations the film shares with 1970s classic, All The President’s Men .

Ben gets barely a better reception from Dr Abigail Chase ( Diane Kruger ) at the National Archives , 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW . There’s free entry to the National Archives Museum , Constitution Avenue NW between 7th and 9th Streets, where, in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, you can indeed cast your eyes on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights.

Ben and Riley discuss their strategy on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial , in front of the Reflecting Pool , where it seems the only option is to take the Declaration into their own protective custody. The fact that the pool had been drained for routine maintenance on the day of filming is no longer a problem for Hollywood – the rippling water was added digitally.

Another location from All The President’s Men turns up in the form of the magnificent circular reading room where the pair research blueprints of the National Archives building. It’s the domed, marble Main Reading Room in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress , First Street SE between East Capitol Street and Independence Avenue ( metro: Capitol South, Union Station ), which is where Bernstein and Woodward conducted their research, too, in the Alan J Pakula film.

Riley sneaks down into the bowels of the Archives-Navy Memorial Station in US Navy Memorial Plaza to access the Archives’ security conduit.

One more President’s Men reference: as Ian Howe prepares his own plan to steal the document, the establishing shot cheekily implies he’s planning his robbery in the Watergate Complex .

Not surprisingly, it wasn’t feasible to film an elaborate heist sequence in the real archives, so a meticulous recreation was built in the studio in Hollywood.

Finding Ben has beaten him to the prize and believing Abigail is in possession of the precious artifact, the thwarted Howe abducts her from in front of the Archives on Pennsylvania Avenue NW .

Ben and Riley give chase to the rival crew’s truck as it thunders down that staple of road chases, South Hill Street around 6th and 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles (there are a few convenient LA locations scattered throughout the film).

Rescuing Abigail, the three stop briefly in front of the Jefferson Memorial to consider their options now that Ben’s apartment, ready and set up to examine the delicate document, is now obviously compromised.

Yes, it’s LA again as the FBI under Agent Sadusky ( Harvey Keitel ) do indeed raid Ben’s place. It’s the Nate Starkman Building, 544 Mateo Street , at Palmetto Street, in the industrial area east of downtown Los Angeles . It's a frequently used location, also seen in Justin Lin 's 2009 Fast And Furious (Fast And Furious 4) . Well done if you noticed as the 'Stygian Street' building in the black-and-white photo discovered by Detective Tapp ( Danny Glover ) in James Wan 's Saw .

Ben reluctantly accepts that he has no choice but to head for the home of his disapproving father, Patrick Gates ( Jon Voight ), who’s long since given up wasting time on the pointless treasure hunt.

The caption reads ‘Philadelphia, Pa’, but the smart white mansion might as well have Pasadena written all over it. In fact it’s 1030 Buena Vista Street at Fairview Avenue in South Pasadena , where conservationists will shudder as Dr Chase daubs lemon juice on the back of the fragile treasure to reveal – yet more clues.

These apparently refer to a series of letters once owned by Gates Sr, written by ‘Silence Dogood’, an alias of Benjamin Franklin , which Ben's dad is reluctantly forced to admit that – dammit – he’s only gone and donated the letters to Philadelphia ’s Franklin Institute .

Is there another caper on the cards? Ben and co drive into the real city of Philadelphia , fittingly, across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River . To avoid attracting attention, Riley slips a few dollars to a young boy to copy out important characters from the letters for him.

Although the Franklin Institute , 222 North 20th Street , is a science museum, it does also house a Frankliniana Collection. Surprisingly, the missives of ‘Mrs Silence Dogood’ were real – written by the teenage Franklin to the New England Courant paper, which was published by his brother, James . When the ruse was discovered, the originals were destroyed so, no, you won’t find them on display in the Institute .

Riley quickly figures out that the next stop is the Liberty Bell , catching up with Ben and Abigail as they kit themselves with new threads at Urban Outfitters , though this is not a Philadelphia branch. It’s Urban Outfitters , 139 West Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena – which should at least be convenient for Mr Gates Sr.

Howe intercepts the final clue from the kid and also heads off to visit the famous Bell at the Liberty Bell Center , 6th Street at Market Street .

Ben, being cleverer, realises that at the time the clues were written, the Liberty Bell was housed in the steeple of Independence Hall (formerly Pennsylvania State House), 520 Chestnut Street , which is where the Centennial Bell now hangs. The Liberty Bell was moved to a nearby glass pavilion in 1976, and then to the Liberty Bell Center in 2003. In fact, the movie was shot a few days before the actual Bell was installed, and a replica is used onscreen.

While Howe is faffing about at the Liberty Bell Center , Ben has discovered Franklin’s ‘ocular device’ in a hollow brick in the Independence Hall wall, with its cryptic message: “Heere at the wall”.

Once Howe wises up, there’s a rooftop chase. But why risk damaging a national monument or building an expensive set when an accurate facsimile already exists? And in California too. The sequence was filmed on the brick-for-brick recreation of Independence Hall built in 1966 at Knott's Berry Farm , 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park , southeast of Los Angeles .

The three split up, with Abigail and Riley ducking into Reading Terminal Market , 51 North 12th Street , while Ben is getting shot at in the ancient churchyard of Old Pine Street Church, 412 Pine Street .

Abigail and Riley head toward Philadelphia City Hall , but when Abigail trips over, Ian finally gets his hands on the Declaration.

Ben doesn’t fare much better, getting arrested by the cops and being monitored by the FBI as Ian Howe sets up a meeting in New York , aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid , moored in the Hudson River.

USS Intrepid is part of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum , Pier 86 West 46th Street at 12th Avenue, a non-profit, educational institution founded in 1982 and featuring alongside the legendary aircraft carrier, the space shuttle Enterprise, the world’s fastest jets and a guided missile submarine.

Ben evades the FBI surveillance with an unexpected dive into the Hudson River , before making his way to the mysterious ‘Heere’, which turns out to be a reference to de Heere Straat – the Gentlemen’s Street – the old Dutch name for Broadway . You can’t say this film is not educational.

And near the junction of Broadway with Wall Street in the Financial District , stands the final destination, Trinity Church , 75 Broadway .

It’s finally back to Los Angeles again for the climax of the film. As you might assume, the vast underground crypt, oddly unnoticed for decades in Manhattan’s packed business district, was naturally built in the studio, but even the church interior is in California .

It’s the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles , 540 South Commonwealth Avenue , between 5th and 6th Streets, Downtown near MacArthur Park.

A screen regular, First Congregational supplied the interior of New York ’s ‘Riverside Church’, where Mary Jane Watson ( Kir sten Dunst ) leaves her husband-to-be in the lurch in Spiderman 2 , as well as the church in which Matt Murdock ( Ben Affleck ) finally confronts Bullseye ( Colin Farrell ) in Mark Steven Johnson ’s Daredevil .

Visit The Film Locations

Washington dc.

International flights: Dulles International Airport , 1 Saarinen Circle, Dulles, VA 20166 ( tel: 703.572.2700 )

Domestic flights: Reagan National Airport , smaller but much closer to downtown DC

Visit: Destination DC , 901 7th Street NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20001-3719 ( tel: 202.789.7000 )

Visit: the National Archives Museum , 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20408 ( tel: 866.272.6272 )

Visit: the Library of Congress , 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540 ( tel: 202.707.5000 ) ( metro: Capitol South, Union Station )

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

Visit: Pennsylvania

Visit: Philadelphia

Flights: Philadelphia International Airport , 8000 Essington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153 ( tel: 215.937.6937 )

Visit: the Franklin Institute , 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 ( tel: 215.448.1200 )

Visit: the Liberty Bell Center , 6th Street at Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 ( tel: 215.965.2305 )

Visit: Reading Terminal Market , 51 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 ( tel: 215.922.2317 )

Flights: John F Kennedy International Airport , New York, NY 11430 ( tel: 718.244.4444 )

Visit: New York

Travel around: MTA

Visit: the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum , Pier 86, West 46th Street at 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 ( tel: 212.245.0072 )

Visit: Utah

California | Los Angeles

Visit: Los Angeles

Flights: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) , 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045 ( tel: 424.646.5252 )

Travelling around: Los Angeles Metro

Shop at: Urban Outfitters , 139 West Colorado Boulevard , Pasadena, CA 91105 ( tel: 626.449.1818 )

Visit: Knott's Berry Farm , 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, CA 90620 ( tel: 714.220.5200 )

Open 365 days a year, Mount Vernon is located just 15 miles south of Washington DC.

From the mansion to lush gardens and grounds, intriguing museum galleries, immersive programs, and the distillery and gristmill. Spend the day with us!

Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".

The Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been maintaining the Mount Vernon Estate since they acquired it from the Washington family in 1858.

Need primary and secondary sources, videos, or interactives? Explore our Education Pages!

The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only.

Behind-the-Scenes of National Treasure: Book of Secrets

The Mount Vernon estate is a featured location in National Treasure: Book of Secrets , a blockbuster, action-adventure film released by Disney.

Director Jon Turteltaub selected the east lawn of Washington's home for one of the most critical scenes in the film. As hundreds of elegantly-attired guests gather to toast the fictional president's birthday at the home of the first president, Ben Gates (as portrayed by Nicholas Cage) decided to crash the party and lure the president into the basement of the Mansion . What ensues is a secret exchange, then utter chaos.

In addition to Cage, the movie features veteran stars Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris, Bruce Greenwood, and Helen Mirren. The producer was Jerry Bruckheimer.

Nancy Hayward, Mount Vernon's Assistant Director of Education at the time, served as the estate's point person during the project. "It was a very exciting week, and when all the dust finally settled, the cast and crew left everything in tip-top condition," she noted. "I think Mount Vernon will look like a pretty glorious place on the big screen."

Specialty Tours

National Treasure Tour

This one-hour walking tour goes behind-the-scenes to areas where "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets" filming took place.

A Secret Passage?

In the movie, the LW corner stone is moved to reveal a hidden doorway. However, in reality, no such secret passage exists!  Or does it?

Go Behind the Scenes of the Film

Our National Treasure Tour will take you to the cellar, show you the Lawrence Washington cornerstone and see all of the spots used in the filming.

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Visiting Mount Vernon and the National Treasure Walking Tour

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Did you know that at Mount Vernon the National Treasure Walking Tour is EPIC! How else would you get to explore George Washington’s basement?!

One of our kids is absolutely obsessed with presidents and so visiting Mount Vernon in Virginia (George Washington’s home) was top on our list. Unfortunately as you can see above they were remodeling so we didn’t get the best view of this historical location.

However our little Sarfari Ltd. TOOB George Washington Bust came along which made it more fun for the kids. You should also know ticket prices are a little steep ($17 / adults and $9 for kids) so keep that in mind if you’re on a tight budget or have a larger family.

The day we went it was 96*, HOT, and fairly miserable because of it! We’re still glad we went but if you’re going be prepared for a LOT of walking (it’s a huge area!) and a lot of waiting for any tours you are going on. I HIGHLY recommend purchasing your tickets for everything at least 2 weeks in advance as the National Treasure Walking tour sold out while I was actually purchasing tickets 2 weeks before we visited.

Thankfully we got the last set of tickets for that day but there were a lot of unhappy people who tried to buy tickets while they were visiting. There are MANY options for specialty tours but at the very least you have to visit the house.

Unfortunately no photos are allowed inside of George Washington’s house during the tour and the tour itself is surprisingly short. You walk through a few rooms with narration from a tour guide and you find yourself right out the back door on the amazing porch with a view of the Potomac River. (also a location featured in the National Treasure movie)

All rooms on the main floor are included in this tour (but NOT the basement – if you want to go down there you’d better grab those National Treasure Walking tour tickets (only $5 per person and worth it for the price).

On the property there are plenty of shady locations to stand under on a hot day which is nice but make sure you carry along some water as the closest drinking fountain is in the museum area. The actual house tour is handicap accessible but not the basement tour.

There are many beautiful trails on site to walk down and although we did not get to all of them because of the heat we had to make a stop at George and Martha’s grave where every day they have a wreath ceremony.

Continuing further down one of the trails you arrive at the Potomac River on your way to the on site farm.

There are animals out on the farm as well as a several large gardens and workers to talk with as you walk through the property. If you’re not up for quite as much walking you can jump on the free shuttle bus that Mount Vernon provides to help you go to each location.

National Treasure Walking Tour:

Our favorite part of our visit to Mount Vernon however was going down into George Washington’s basement on the National Treasure Walking Tour. We let the kids watch National Treasure for the first time on our drive over from Iowa so they were thrilled to see some of the same historical locations they saw in the movie.

While the movie had a section based in George Washington’s basement the actual filming location was rebuilt and filmed elsewhere. What you see above is the entire basement from one end to the other with small cellar rooms off to the side.

Although not the original cornerstone “LW” stands for Lawrence Washington, George’s brother. Our tour guide was absolutely phenomenal and gave us a historically packed tour full of information not only about filming scenes and tips from the movie but also accurate historical information that you won’t hear about on the main house tour. It was just fascinating.

We had plenty of time to roam around the basement during the tour which we were thankful for because it was so hot when we visited! We even learned that there was a secret passageway way from the basement that led straight into Washington’s study!

The kids thought it was pretty cool to bring our George Washington bust into the basement with us.

Although the walk is not for nor difficult it takes you around different locations on the property where National Treasure was filmed or referred to including the original ice box – a hole dug down into the cliffside and modified in the movie to show a “getaway tunnel”.

 There are daily additional tours and events for free at Mount Vernon so make sure to check the schedule before you visit. We made sure to schedule our tours and activities around the children’s time where our kids were able to create their own tri-corn hats and help sew the American flag.

Before we visited Mount Vernon we read the book  George Washington’s Teeth   which is an absolutely fantastic children’s book. It’s hilarious and quite clever and teaches kids about the myths and truths surrounding George Washington’s famous toothaches and supposed wooden teeth.

After reading this book actually viewing one of the only remaining sets of George Washington’s teeth were high on my children’s list. In fact they pretty much ran through the museum searching for them.

If you stand behind the display and stand in the right spot it looks like you are wearing George Washington’s teeth! Best photo opp ever for kids! The museum was actually split into two different sections. George Washington’s personal things (photos were OK here) and Washington’s historical timeline (no photos allowed).

Another fun idea for kids that we did as we visited all of the top presidential sites in the Virginia and Washington, D.C. area was to let the kids take photos of themselves holding up president masks. We got these at Oriental Trading .

A few more ideas that we bought for the kids other than the President TOOB , George Washington’s Teeth and presidential masks were presidential ducks , president fact bracelets , and the children’s book Let’s Play Soldier George Washington .

About Crystal

I'm the product of a family who never travelled and now I can't get enough! Please leave a comment or send me a message with some of your favorite lesser known places to visit - my bucket list in the USA is always expanding! My passion for travel motivated me to drag along my husband and 3 kids until now they are as eager as I am to hit the road! What should we visit near you?

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November 9, 2018 at 12:33 am

I am a visual artist and needed a picture of George Washington’s teeth for a piece of art I am working on. You have taken a wonderful photo and I am asking your permission to use it as reference in my art. IF you do allow – how would you like to be credited? Will there be any compensation due? Thanks in advance! By the way, I live in Charleston and urge you to visit if you haven’y been here yet.

November 12, 2018 at 2:51 pm

Simply credit back to the site – that would be great!

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NATIONAL TREASURE FILMING LOCATIONS

If there’s one thing famous above all in Boston, it’s the rich history with our founding fathers. The Disney movie National Treasure explores the history of a few historically significant cities across America – Boston included.

Although the movie received mixed reviews from critics, it was a financial success in America, remaining at number one at the box office for three weekends in a row. In addition to Nicholas Cage, the film is rounded out by a star studded cast including Justin Bartha, Harvey Keitel, Sean Bean, Diane Kruger, Christopher Plummer, Jon Voight, and Jason Earles.

One location in Boston was briefly mentioned during the film – The Old North Church, located in the heart of the North End. In this scene John Voight’s character tricks the antagonist Sean Bean into thinking that the next clue in the hunt was to go to where the historic ride taken by Paul Revere began. The team falls for it and the team led by Nicholas Cage is freed.

The sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, was released three years later in 2007 with Ed Harris, Bruce Greenwood, and Helen Mirren joining the cast, which also was a financial success. A potential third film is in the works but there have been no official announcements.

Check out the Old North Church when riding through the North End on our Boston TV and Movie Sites Tour !

* In an effort to stay current, we are constantly updating our tours with new locations and cannot guarantee the presence of locations mentioned on our site. If you have a particular interest in locations from a specific TV show or movie, please let your tour guide know and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

• Tag Walking Tour/Self-Guided Tour
• Hour Glass 1.5 hours
• User All ages

Boston Movie Mile Tour

Explore the famous Boston Movie Mile on this fun and interactive walking tour!

• Tag Public Bus/Vehicle Tour
• Hour Glass 3 hours
• User Ages 6+

Boston TV & Movie Sites Tour

Experience Boston’s movie magic by visiting filming locations from your favorite TV shows and movies.

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Washington, D.C.'s Most Iconic Buildings, As Seen on Film

While there are over 200 films set in Washington, D.C., very rarely are movies ever actually filmed in the nation's capital. More often than not, filmmakers head towards other states for generous givebacks. For example, both of HBO's hit political TV series, House of Cards and Veep are mostly filmed in Maryland. According to DCist , Washington, D.C. hasn't paid a cent in film incentives since 2010. While the city remains empty of camera crews, it's still showcased with lights, camera, and action in movies like The Exorcist and National Treasure . If interested in taking a tour of Washington, D.C.'s most film-worthy locations, check out the map below of 10 movies that captured the District's good side.

· Top 10 Photos of D.C.'s Utter Destruction in Disaster Movies [Curbed DC] · The Ultimate National Treasure Filming Map of America [Curbed DC] · Mapping the Filming Locations of The Exorcist [Curbed DC] · Mapping the Filming Locations of The Recruit [Curbed DC] · Mapping the Filming Locations of All the President's Men [Curbed DC]

The Exorcist

Okay, a staircase might not seem like the most exciting film location to visit, but these stairs were so notable in the 1970s supernatural horror film, The Exorcist , that they are to receive a plaque on October 30, 2015, roughly 45 years after the film was released. The famous scene that was filmed on the steps was the death of Father Karras.

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Earth vs. The Flying Saucers

While films like Independence Day may be most known for scenes of utter destruction in the nation's capital, it was the 1950s classic, Earth vs. The Flying Saucers , that really helped the doomsday ball start rolling. Aliens, space scientists, what more do you need?

Independence Day

To film the famous White House explosion scene in Independence Day , the filmmakers created a 10-foot-by-5-foot model of the iconic building. It took a week to plan the detonation with 40 explosive charges.

St. Elmo’s Fire

It was in Georgetown University that the characters from St. Elmo's Fire arose with famed actors like Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, and Rob Lowe. While the Brat Pack's favorite hang out spot, St. Elmo's Bar, doesn't exist, you can still get some nosh at the location where it was filmed at.

All the President’s Men

Foggy Bottom's Watergate complex was the site where The Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered the Watergate scandal, which later led to the resignation of President Nixon and future uses of the suffix -gate in relation to scandals. The mid-1970s film, All the President's Men , features the process on how the two reporters investigated the scandal.

House of Cards

While the Metro location mapped here is Dupont Circle, the first episode of the second season of House of Cards actually featured the Cathedral Heights Metro (which doesn't exist, in case you didn't know). Regardless, there's no way a person can speak about Washington, D.C. film history without giving a nod to this political drama. The scene featured the death of a major character and was filmed at the Charles Street subway stop in Baltimore .

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

To filibuster or not to filibuster, that is the question. It was in the late-1930s film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , that Senator Jefferson Smith successfully filibustered a bill for 24 hours or so in the U.S. Capitol that would have permitted construction of a dam on the site of his proposed boys camp. The political comedy-drama went on to win 11 Academy Award nominations and win one for Best Original Story. In 1989, the film was added to the U.S. National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Thank You for Smoking

In this 2005 film, handsome, smooth-talker Nick Naylor does his best to raise his son while working as a tobacco lobbyist who argues that there is no definitive evidence of any linkage between tobacco smoking and lung cancer. By the end of Thank You for Smoking , when he loses his job and his friends, Naylor speaks before the Senate committee, gaining back his confidence with his quick wit, his quirky rhetoric, and his love for his son. While this feel-good, raw-humored film is often set in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, its scenes in Washington, D.C. are some of the most memorable.

National Treasure

It was in the National Archives that historian and all-around cool guy Benjamin Franklin Gates (played by Curbed's Hollywood favorite, Nic Cage ) understood that the only way to save the Declaration of Independence was to steal it. The next time you step foot in this iconic building, be careful. Your inclination to follow in Nic Cage's footsteps might not end up with gold and getting the girl; we're talking jail time.

Forrest Gump

For fans of the mid-1990s film, Forrest Gump , the scene at the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool can still bring tears in our eyes as we remember when Forrest runs through the pool to meet his love, Jenny. You run to her, Forrest. Run, Forrest. Run.

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The National Archives Museum depicts our astounding national mosaic and tells the stories of the American journey.

National treasure.

Saturday, July 1, 2023 - 5:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), third-generation treasure hunter, has been searching for a great treasure hidden by America’s Founding Fathers. Gates's pursuit leads him to an incredible clue—a secret message hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence. When confronted with a rival treasure hunter (Sean Bean), Gates realizes that, in order to protect the world's greatest treasure, he must now steal the most revered, best-guarded document in American history before it falls into the wrong hands. Also stars Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, and Jon Voight. (2004; 131 mins.; rated PG)

All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted.

Treasures of the District

You can indulge your inner explorer by finding these historic gems all over the nation’s capital.

Let us play One-Eyed Willie and lead you on a dynamic adventure through Washington, DC, where you can discover lots of treasure without going underground. From Stone Age tools to country-founding documents to 400-year-old plants, the District will have you playing Indiana Jones in your quest to lay eyes on these story-inspiring, history-making artifacts. And looking at them will not cause you to melt!

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Oldowan stone chopper from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins, First Floor The oldest human-made piece in the Smithsonian’s collections – likely making it the oldest discoverable artifact in the nation’s capital – can be found in the hallowed halls of the National Museum of Natural History. Roughly 1.8 million years old, the early Stone Age chopper was used as a tool to extract meat and bone marrow from large animals by early humans in East Africa. Choppers were formed by striking hammerstones against stone cores to produce sharp ends. Note that if you are looking for treasure a little more shiny, you can also see the Hope Diamond at the same museum. More information

Smithsonian National Museum of American History

The First Teddy Bear Smithsonian National Museum of American History The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden exhibit, 3 Center Did you know that the inspiration for our cuddliest toy was the sympathy of one Theodore Roosevelt? In 1902, near the beginning of his first term as the 26th President of the United States, “Teddy” (as he was lovingly known by his supporters) refused to shoot and kill a 235-pound black bear who had been tied to a tree. Roosevelt’s affection for the “old, tired, worn-out bear” led to a political cartoon by the Washington Star’s Clifford Berryman, which in turn inspired Brooklyn candy store owners Rose and Morris Michtom to create the first stuffed bear toy (which also bore the President’s namesake). Before producing more bears, Morris received permission to make a small bear cub and deem it “Teddy’s Bear”; by 1908, Michtom’s invention had made him a millionaire. The original Teddy Bear is now on display at the National Museum of American History in its incredible exhibit on the presidency . More information

National Archives

The Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom National Archives Upper Level No, there’s not actually a treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence, regardless of your desire to play Benjamin Franklin Gates from National Treasure . However, you can view our country’s founding document inside the National Archives’ famous rotunda, which also features the original U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The chance to view any one of the documents is wholly unique to DC; getting to see all three in one place is like finding a pot of gold. We should also make note of the fact that another treasured American document, the Emancipation Proclamation, is now also on permanent display in the Archives’ Rotunda. More information

National Gallery of Art

Leonardo da Vinci’s Ginevra de’ Benci National Gallery of Art West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 6 If you want to view a painting by the great Leonardo da Vinci on American soil, the only place you can do so is inside DC’s National Gallery of Art. Ginevra de’ Benci, which is located in the Gallery’s West Building, finds the original Renaissance man experimenting with the new medium of oil painting – note how the surface of the painting shows wrinkles, a sign that da Vinci was still mastering the technique. The museum’s website provides additional insight into the painting’s creative significance: “…the careful observation of nature and subtle three–dimensionality of Ginevra's face point unmistakably to the new naturalism with which Leonardo would transform Renaissance painting.” More information

Old Stone House

Old Stone House 3051 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 DC’s oldest neighborhood, Georgetown, is home to both the historic and the haunted. Perhaps the best example of the former is the Old Stone House, known as the oldest structure on its original foundation in the nation’s capital. The story of the land goes all the way back to the creation of Georgetown itself in 1751, when it was marked as “Lot #3” on early maps. Construction on the house was completed in 1766 and since then, the remarkable building has passed through numerous owners, finally coming into the possession of the federal government in 1953. Today, the gorgeous exterior grounds are open from sunrise to sunset, while the front room of the house is a store and the kitchen serves as an exhibit space. More information

Washington National Cathedral

Darth Vader ‘Gargoyle’ Washington National Cathedral Northwest Tower In one of the city’s wildest mashups, the Washington National Cathedral sports a Darth Vader ‘gargoyle’ on its northwest tower. The villainous creation is the result of a design-a-carving competition held by the Cathedral as it constructed its two west towers in the 1980s. Christopher Rader’s grotesque is a fascinating, can-you-spot-me that requires instructions to be found. More information

The Bonsai that survived Hiroshima U.S. National Arboretum Japanese Pavilion While the former U.S. Capitol Columns are incredibly photogenic and historic, they’re far from being the only amazing artifacts at the U.S. National Arboretum in DC. A Japanese white pine bonsai tree that survived the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 resides in the Arboretum’s Japanese Pavilion, part of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. The white pine, donated by bonsai master Masaru Yamaki as part of a 53-piece gift to the U.S. for its bicentennial in 1976, sat in the Arboretum’s collection for 25 years before the master’s sons visited to check on their grandfather’s tree. According to The Washington Post , the duo informed Arboretum officials of the tree’s incredible survival skills. Sure enough, news footage taken at the Yamaki Nursery after the nuclear blast show the white pine unharmed. The artful tree still stands today, truly a modern treasure in its resiliency. More information Arboretum Plant Finder & Interactive Map

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Where was National Treasure filmed?

City locations.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, DC; Los Angeles, California

Location Types

American, Apartment, House, Building

Location Styles

Americana/Anywhere America, Contemporary Modern, Construction, Federal Building

About National Treasure

In National Treasure, Nicholas Cage is cast as Benjamin Franklin Gates, an American historian, treasure hunter, and cryptographer. When he was young, he was told about a hidden national treasure in America. The phrase, "the secret lies with Charlotte" is the only clue that can lead him to the treasure.

After 30 years, Ben and Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) lead an exploration, supported financially by Ian Howe (Sean Bean). This is aimed at finding this Charlotte. They find an engraving that reveals that the next clue will be found in the Declaration of Independence. As Ian shows himself to be the crime boss, the group divides.

Eventually, Ben obtains the Declaration successfully. However, he is spotted by Ian's group as they also try to get their hands on it. Ben must purchase the Declaration after the clerk mistakes the prized asset for a souvenir copy. Abigail (Diane Kruger) challenges Ben as she senses something is wrong. She takes back the document.

She is kidnapped by Ian. However, to save her, Riley and Ben tricked Ian by intentionally leaving a copy of the Declaration behind. Ben is tracked down by Sandusky (Harvey Keitel), an FBI agent. Ben, Riley, and Abigail acquaint themselves with the Declaration and discover an invisible link. The message from the link points to the Silence Dogood letters. They were initially owned by Patrick, but he already donated these letters to the Franklin Institute.

The trio of Abigail, Ben, and Riley pay a schoolboy to decipher the code and they soon figure out that the message points them to the Independence Hall's bell tower. They are chased by Ian, and they discover a cache, which consists of a glass pair designed with various colored lenses. When these lenses are used to read the Declaration, all signs point to the Trinity Church.

After Ian gets the Declaration from Riley and Abigail, Ian traps Abigail, Ben, Patrick (Jon Voight), and Riley in a chamber, which happens to be Patrick's plan all along since the clue was fictitious. Eventually, Ian is arrested and sent to prison by the FBI.

Ian begins a relationship with Abigail. Riley is angry that Ben refuses a 10% finder's fee for the entire collection to go to the museum. Yet, the 1% he accepted was very lucrative.

National Treasure Locations

National Treasure is an American adventure-action movie that was released in 2004 by Walt Disney Pictures. The movie was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, written by Jim Kouf, and directed by Jon Turteltaub. This top-rated movie features some Hollywood darlings, including Nicolas Cage, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Diane Kruger, Christopher Plummer, and Justin Bartha.

It is no stretch to affirm that bringing Hollywood to a certain location is the perfect storm the area will need to gain popularity. For this reason, many of these places have become major tourist attractions. If you wish to know more about these locations' scenes, keep on reading!

Some footage in the movie represents the first filming that is allowed in Philadelphia's Independence Hall's tower.

Ben leads an expedition with Riley to find Charlotte scene in National Treasure

Strawberry Bay Marina, 23 Miles E of, US-40, Heber City, UT

In this scene, Ben and his team drive to the arctic in search of Charlotte. Riley says "We are getting closer. Assuming Ben's theory is correct, and my geography models are accurate, we should be getting very close." Then, they joke about throwing him out of the vehicle. They are signaled that the target is reached.

They get out of the vehicle and wonder if they are looking for a ship. Then, Ben says, "she's out there." They search the whole area for Charlotte. One of the guys tells Riley the expedition is just a waste of time. Then, Riley replies, "well, I'm no expert, it could be that the hydrothermal properties of this region produce hurricane-force ice storms that caused the ocean to freeze, melt, and refreeze, resulting in a semi-solid, migrating landmass that would land a ship right around here."

If you wish to explore the great outdoors, then Utah is the right place to visit. Besides the stunning Strawberry Bay, state parks, and national parks, many tourists from different parts of the world flock to this state to enjoy various outdoor activities, including skiing and hiking. The city is also renowned for its popular festivals, as well as its history and culture. You can get to Strawberry Bay by air or road.

Riley fears that no one can help their cause scene in National Treasure

J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building, 900 E St NW, Washington, DC, USA

The scene begins with Riley and Ben coming out of the FBI Building. "It's really so hard to believe that someone is going to try to steal the Declaration of Independence." Riley opines. Ben responds, "the FBI gets 10,000 tips a week. They are not going to worry about something they are sure is safe."

Riley is concerned that anyone that can do anything would think they are crazy and if anyone is crazy to believe them isn't going to help. Then, Ben tells him, "we don't need someone crazy, but one step short of crazy. What do you got?" Riley scoffs, "obsessed." Ben replies, "Passionate."

The J. Edgar Hoover building is the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The building is named after J. Edgar Hoover, the former FBI director. The internal space of the building spans in excess of 2.8 million square feet. If you are a tourist in the District of Columbia, this is a place worth visiting.

The building is designed with a system of elevators, corridors, and other amenities, which can keep the rest of the building from public tours. If you are in D.C., then you can get to the building by bus, car, or taxi.

Riley and Ben examine the Declaration of Independence scene in National Treasure

National Archives Building, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC, USA.

The scene begins with Ben checking out a National Archives Anniversary Gala flier. Then, both men are invited in to see Abigail. As they enter the room, Abigail greets them, "good afternoon, gentlemen." They exchange pleasantries. Then, Ben enthuses about Abigail's accent.

"You're not an American?" Riley asks. Abigail replies, "Oh, I am an American. I just wasn't born here."

Then, she asks them why they've come to see her. "Someone is going to steal the declaration of independence," Ben affirms. Abigail wants to refer them to the FBI. However, Ben tells her they've been there.

Abigail believes the FBI is right that the declaration cannot be stolen. Yet, Ben asks for a privilege to examine the document. This is to figure out if the document is actually in danger of being stolen. Ben tells her about the code written on the document.

The National Archive where this takes place is renowned for its rich history. The building contains over three billion records. These include the three essential documents in the history of the United States: the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights.

If you wish to experience history first-hand, then you should visit this iconic location to learn more. In addition, it is never a wrong idea to visit one of the scene locations of your favorite movie. It is easy to reach this location by bus, metro, or vehicle.

Abigail is kidnapped by Ian scene in National Treasure

National Archives Museum, Washington DC, USA.

After Ben steals the Declaration of Independence, Abigail suspects something is wrong. She follows him to Ben’s van as Riley waits for him. Then, there is a code red just after Abigail confronts him. She shouts for security when Ben gives her the document. Ben and Riley chase Ian and try to rescue her by tricking Ian.

"Are you alright?" Ben asks Abigail. She replies, "No. Those lunatics." Ben continues, "you're not hurt, are you?" Abigail shouts, "You are a lunatic!" Abigail is scared that Ian and his men have the document. However, Ben shows her the original document.

The National Archives Building represents the headquarters of the National Archives and Records Administration of the United States. The building is home to three essential documents in the history of the U.S. These are the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights.

Other documents you will find inside this building include the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, the Articles of Confederation, and the Emancipation Proclamation, among others. While photography is not permitted in the building, you will come across many exhibits that will expose you to the long history of the United States. As a result, this is a place to visit if you love history.

FBI raids Ben's apartment scene in National Treasure

544 Mateo Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

With the hope of arresting Ben for stealing the document and gathering more information, the FBI storms Ben's apartment. After seeing Ben's apartment, one of the officers opines, "Now, we are getting somewhere." They go through some documents in Ben's room.

This scene location is not strange among filmmakers. Indeed, it was used in Fast and Furious 4 (2009). This place is located in a city that is renowned for its entertainment. Besides this, it is also regarded as the international trade capital of the United States. Los Angeles County is the second most populous city in the United States, with more than 3.9 million residents.

Ben, Abigail, and Riley go to Patrick's house scene in National Treasure

1030 Buena Vista Street, South Pasadena, California, USA

The trio arrives at Patrick's doorstep and Ben rings the bell. Ben greets his father, "Dad." Patrick replies, "where is the party?" He tells his father he is in trouble. Patrick asks if Abigail is pregnant. Ben responds, "Yeah, she is. You are gonna let a woman carrying your grandchild stand outside in the cold?"

Abigail whispers to Riley, "Do I look pregnant?" Riley shakes his head. Then, Patrick invites them in, and he quickly whispers to his son, "this better not be about the d*mn treasure." He tells them to have a pizza and make themselves comfortable. After much disagreement between Ben and Patrick, he tells his father he has found Charlotte. Then, they study the declaration.

South Pasadena is a diverse city with about 25,619 residents. The city is home to beautiful homes, small businesses, and top-quality schools. Also known as the city of trees, you will find more than 100 acres of space, which is mainly reserved for parks in this burgeoning city.

This private home on Buena Vista Street can be reached on the Metro L Gold Line, Bus 260, 106, or 45. You can also get there by car. The house is just north of Highway 110 next to Arroyo Park.

This thrilling action-adventure movie follows the story of Ben Gates as he tries to find a lost treasure with the help of his father, Patrick, as well as Riley and Abigail. He faces a formidable challenge from Ian Howe who also wants to find the treasure.

As a movie that highlighted part of the rich history of the United States, many iconic locations were used in its filming. When it comes to the history of the country, the National Archives building is one of the most significant buildings in the U.S. Besides this, the FBI building is also worth visiting.

Furthermore, many of these locations have also been used in the filming of other top-rated movies. For instance, South Pasadena is a location used for the filming of many highly-rated movies, including La La Land (2016), The Terminator (1984), and The Girl Next Door (2004).

12 Famous Movies Filmed In Washington D.C.

Travel guide.

If you are in love with the most emblematic city in the United States and you are also a movie lover, you are going to love this article!

Washington DC has served as a set of fascinating films. The Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, among others, are places that everyone may visit in a  Day Trip to Washington DC from New York , since those places have been part of the intrigues and conspiracies of the seventh art.

Keep reading this post with us and meet  12 famous movies that were filmed in Washington  streets. And after that, create your own list of the favorite places to visit in your next  Washington DC One Day Tour from New York .

1. Forrest Gump, 1994

One of the most famous movies filmed in Washington, it describes the life of Forrest Gump, a boy with a slight mental and motor disability who, despite everything, became a heroic character during the Vietnam War. One of the most memorable scenes in the film is when Tom Hanks, the lead actor in this film, is running in the reflecting pool of the Lincoln Memorial right in the Washington Obelisk direction. This sequence, which was engraved in the memory of moviegoers, is one of the places to visit in Washington that, for sure, you cannot miss.

2. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939

It is a dramatic comedy film, directed by Frank Capra and starring Jean Arthur, James Stewart and Claude Rains. It deals with the politics of the United States which led it to be nominated for 11 categories of the Academy Awards, winning as the best adapted screenplay. In 1989, the film was considered culturally, historically and aesthetically significant, for being recorded in one of the most visited places in Washington DC, the United States Library of Congress.

3. The Silence Of The Lambs, 1991

Released in 1991 and directed by Jonathan DemmeIt, The Silence of the Lambs is a horror thriller film based on the story of Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a serial killer and cannibal. Although the film was mostly filmed in Florence, it was also partly filmed in the historic city of the United States. Another reason why the Library of Congress has become one of the places to visit in Washington, and one of the places that may be in your itinerary.

4. All The President’s Men, 1976

All the President’s Men tells us about the famous “Watergate” scandal investigation, which caused Richard Nixon to resign as President of the United States. Two reporters from the Washington Post investigated a political issue that apparently has little importance, but at the end they uncover a dirty issue that involves the White House and the president of the nation himself. In this film, several scenes were shot in the Library of Congress and the White House, both located in the nation’s capital.

Book now your Day Trip to Washington DC from New York!

5. The Exorcist, 1973

This horror film tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who has strange behaviors by going through a demonic possession. Her worried mother seeks the help of a local priest who requests to perform an exorcism.

One of the most terrifying scenes of the movie was shot on a staircase in Georgetown, it was also the movie poster and, since the film, it turned out to be a new “icon of the district”. From this well-deserved recognition the staircase will long remain as a favorite destination for residents and tourists.

6. JFK, 1991

The film features the investigation into President John F. Kennedy assassination , led by Jim Garrison, a New Orleans District Attorney. After the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin, Garrison reopened the investigation and found evidence of an extensive conspiracy following president Kennedy’s death. As soon as you come to the United States you will notice that DC is full of history ready to be told.

7. Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 2014

Superheroes have also fought major battles in the American capital, battles where the world has been prevented from being destroyed. Fortunately, it has always been possible to keep these iconic places to visit in Washington standing, such as the White House and the Capitol . Locations that you may see on your next  Day trip to DC from NYC .

8. Independence Day, 1996

It is a science fiction film, released in 1996, that tells the story of an alien invasion over the Earth just 2 days before the American independence day. This film was the winner of an Oscar in the category of best visual effects, as well as a Saturn Award for the best science fiction film of 1996. This wonderful film shows us one of the tourist places of Washington that you definitely cannot miss, The Pentagon.

9. Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian, 2009

It is a comedy that shows a huge adventure experienced by a former guard of the American Museum of Natural History, in Manhattan. The characters in this film, with the exception of Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), the guard, are part of the museum’s exhibition who come to life every night.

Due to changes in the Natural History Museum, part of the exhibition will be transferred to the Smithsonian – a renowned institute, museum and research center based in Washington DC – that will host all of these objects but it will also be influenced by the magic that the new visitors carry from New York.

In Night in Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian we could see how great pieces of art and some other magnificent exponents of history come to life, such as Amelia Earhart, Napoleon Bonaparte, Al Capone, Albert Einstein and Abraham Lincoln himself, this immense representation of the former president that is located in the renowned Lincoln Memorial.

10. National Treasure, 2004

This adventure film follows the amateur cryptologist Ben Franklin Gates, who stole the Declaration of Independence to find a coded hidden treasure map that will lead him to a treasure hidden by American freemasons during the American Revolutionary War. 

This film shows you the magnificent architecture of the National Archives Museum and gives you the invitation to visit this historical monument to see important documents of US history, such as the Bill of Rights, The Constitution of the United States and, of course, the Declaration of Independence.

11. State Of Play, 2009

This political thriller, based on “State of Play” by Paul Abbot, talks about the Carl McAffrey’s journalistic investigation about the strange death of a congressman’s assistant, who, apparently, commited suicide.

This film show us different and notorious locations in D.C. like the Ben’s Chili Bowl. Where, while you take a  Washington DC one day tour from NYC , you will be able to eat the famous chili dogs and half-smokes like many celebrities have, such as Shaquille O’Neal or Denzel Washington.

12. In The Line Of Fire, 1993

This political action thriller tells the story of a disillusioned and obsessed former CIA agent, McCrawley, who attempts to assassinate the president of the United States.

While the plot of this thriller goes forward, it will take you on a tour through different spots from Washington. You will see the US Treasury Building, the Old Ebbitt Grill and the Lincoln Memorial, where you can go for an ice cream while you look at the great monument.

We are sure that there are hundreds of films that have taken this beautiful city as their stage. Today we have taken the time to show you this extraordinary selection so that you can get to know the capital of the United States from the perspective of the seventh art.

Dare to discover these unforgettable places to visit in a  Day trip to DC from NYC  that will make you feel part of the film industry.

We have everything prepared for your vacations in New York .  Check our tours and trips and get ready to live the best experience of your life.

Famous Places in New York

New York Boroughs: From Manhattan to Brooklyn.

Washington Monuments: A Cultural Journey through History

Best Activities in New York: Must-Do Experiences

Blend of Past and Present: A Day in Washington DC from New York

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D evoted C apital Movie Tours was created in 2022. Take a ride on Devoted Capital Movie Tours through beautiful Washington DC. Through this tour, you will get to see the very landmarks that have shaped this American nation, but also get to see landmarks that your favorite movie was filmed on. From the beginning Church scene of New Line Cinema's "Wedding Crashers" to one of America's favorite, filmed by Paramount Pictures Forrest Gump. D evoted Capital Movie Tour will be a ride to remember. 

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9. Lincoln Memorial

10. The National Mall

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Site navigation, america's 11 most endangered historic places.

This annual list raises awareness about the threats facing some of the nation's greatest treasures.

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Cinema History: Saved, Lost, and Threatened Movie Locations in Washington, D.C.

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By: Anjuli Johnson, On Location Tours

Filming in Washington, D.C. can be challenging. Our nation’s capital has numerous restrictions on where, when, and how film crews can shoot, which means many movies and TV shows set in D.C. do their filming elsewhere, such as New York. But it also means that most of the film crews that do end up shooting in the District do so for important scenes set at historic locations that can’t be recreated, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, and the White House.

Though the most commonly filmed locations in Washington, D.C. are on the National Register of Historic Places, there are plenty of other locations that have interesting preservation stories. Here's a list of which locations are threatened, lost, or saved.

photo by: Norman Maddeaux, Flickr

Old Post Office Pavilion, featured in "No Way Out," "In the Line of Fire," and "Broadcast News."

Saved Movie Locations

Old Post Office Pavilion

The Old Post Office was used as Washington’s main post office until 1914, after which it was mainly used as an office building. Plans to build Federal Triangle and redevelop Pennsylvania Avenue threatened the Old Post Office in both the 1930s and the 1970s. The plan to demolish the building was abandoned in 1973 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Old Post Office building and its Pavilion can be seen in No Way Out , In the Line of Fire , and Broadcast News .

photo by: David Jones, Flickr

Union Station, featured in "Exorcist II: The Heretic," "Hannibal," and "The Recruit."

Union Station

The original Union Station was featured in the classic 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and again in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1951 film Strangers On a Train . By the mid-1960s, its glory days had passed and it was re-purposed into the National Visitor Center, reopening in 1976. When that failed, Congress decided to restore Union Station rather than demolishing the deteriorating building. The new transportation hub opened in 1988. During the building’s transition and after its restoration, Union Station was used as a filming location for Exorcist II: The Heretic , Hannibal , and The Recruit .

photo by: David Gaine, Flickr

Old Greyhound Bus Terminal, featured in "Scorpio."

Greyhound Bus Terminal

Washington’s old Greyhound bus terminal appears in the 1973 film Scorpio . The terminal shut down in the 1980s and the new owners planned to build an office building in the space. Preservationists fought to save not only the Art Deco facade but the entire building. The structure ended up being incorporated as the entrance to the new office building.

photo by: Wally Gobetz, Flickr

Willard InterContinental Hotel, featured in "Minority Report," "Captain America: Winter Soldier," and "The American President."

Willard InterContinental Hotel

The original Willard Hotel closed in 1968. It was empty for several years and considered for demolition. But eventually it was taken over by InterContinental Hotels, restored to its former glory, and reopened in 1986 as the Willard InterContinental. The Willard is featured in Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report . The ground floor of the hotel also contains Occidental Grill, where Captain America: Winter Soldier filmed, and Greenworks, a flower shop that can be seen in The American President .

Mayflower Renaissance Hotel

In 1971, the owners of the then-struggling Mayflower Hotel considered tearing it down and using the space for a new office building. The plan was eventually abandoned when the owners brought in new management. The director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, ate lunch at the hotel’s restaurant frequently, and the 1977 film The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover filmed there. In addition, the Mayflower was used for interior hotel scenes in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie True Lies .

photo by: Wendy, Flickr

Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, featured in "True Lies."

photo by: Wikimedia Commons

Washington Post Headquarters, featured in "All the President's Men" and "Chances Are."

Lost Movie Locations

Washington Post Headquarters

The headquarters for The Washington Post, seen in All the President’s Men and a romantic comedy called Chances Are , will be demolished next year after the newspaper relocates to a new office. There has been no attempt at making the building a landmark since its architecture isn’t what is important about its history.

photo by: David, Flickr

Shops at Georgetown Park Mall, featured in "No Way Out," "True Lies," and "Timecop."

Shops at Georgetown Park Mall

Most retailers in this underground shopping mall in Georgetown were closed by 2012, except those with street-level entrances. The owners of the property decided on interior demolition to get rid of the mall layout inside, opting to create space for fewer but larger, multi-level stores. The recognizable mall seen in No Way Out (as the fictional Georgetown metro station), True Lies , Best Friends , and Timecop is gone.

photo by: Mark Male, Flickr

J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building, featured in "National Treasure," "All the President's Men," "Hannibal," and "The X-Files."

Threatened Movie Locations

J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building

The FBI is moving their headquarters out of downtown Washington, and the future of the massive J. Edgar Hoover Building that looms over Pennsylvania Avenue is in question. The site of the new headquarters hasn’t been chosen yet, so it’s likely that the transition won’t be completed for several years. Once The J. Edgar Hoover Building is empty, it’s likely that the developers will choose to demolish it, but preservationists still have several years to change the building’s fate. The FBI’s downtown headquarters have been featured in National Treasure , All the President’s Men , Hannibal , and The X-Files .

By purchasing any of these products using the Amazon links on this page, you'll be supporting the National Trust. A small portion of the sales comes back to us to support our work. Looking for other ways to support preservation? Consider giving a gift membership to the place-lover in your life.

Contributor Anjuli Johnson works for On Location Tours .

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don't take the National Treasure Tour - George Washington's Mount Vernon

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• George Washington's Mount Vernon

don't take the National Treasure Tour

Mt. Vernon was beautiful, graceful and peaceful a true gem. I caution anyone on spending the extra $5 per ticket for the National Treasure tour, it was a bust. Our kids have loved the movies and were excited to see "behind the scences" as advertised. Our tour guide was not happy giving the tour, and bascially passed around a few photos of the set, very diasppointing to my children and the many other kids on the tour. You are better off walking around and exploring on your own.

We spent a whole day of our DC vacation touring Mt. Vernon and we are so glad that we did. We arrived early because we wanted to try to get tickets for the special tour "National Treasure." We got there about 9:30 and were able to get tickets to the 1:00 tour. The first thing we did was get in line for the mansion tour. The line got longer and longer throughout the day so I would recommend doing this first when the lines are shorter. After our mansion tour, we toured some of the grounds. After lunch, we met up with our tour guide for the National Treasure tour. My kids (14 and 12) loved the parts of the tour that showcased the movie. I did not see the movie but I still loved the tour. The guide was so knowledgeable and pleasant. She eagerly answered our questions about the National Treasure movie making but also about the Washingtons and their life at Mt. Vernon. The National Treasure tour was really one of the highlights of the day and we highly recommend it! I think you can get the tickets online in advance as well as in person the day of the tour. After that, we visited the museum which was very well done and a nice way to get out of the heat of the day! All in all, it was a wonderful day. We were glad we allocated a whole day to it so that we were not rushing through it and felt like we saw everything we wanted to.

A visit to Mt. Vernon, homestead of George and Martha Washington, is a step back into time. Their welcoming home and splendid grounds allow you to experience the grandeur these historical figures lived in during the infancy of our country. The new Ford Foundation building is a magnificent addition to the estate and not to be missed. The Mt. Vernon experience is a day long attraction perfected by dining in the Mt. Vernon Inn on sumptuous local fare. A delightful gift area on your way out allows you to take a bit of Mt. Vernon with you. And did I mention that the back porch of Mt. Vernon permits you to sit and enjoy the Potomac and its view just as the Washingtons enjoyed over 200 years ago? A must see!!

We live in the area and have visited George Washington's home many times, always with pleasure! This week we shared our favorite tourist attraction with friends from Michigan who were in town on a combination business/pleasure trip. On a beautiful day you can not find a lovelier setting on the Potomac River! The friendly, costumed docents are the nicest guides we have ever encountered during our traveling in the States, as well as in Europe and other parts of the world. Both children and adults love this well-run, extensive historical site. You could easily spent an entire day here and not run out of things to do or see. Be sure to eat lunch in the on-site George Washington Inn for an atmospheric setting, colonial-garbed servers, and old-time entrees. The highlight of any trip to Mount Vernon is to spend time in the excellent museum, a must see, that is included in the price of admission to the grounds and the mansion.

We decided to go in the afternoon since we thought it might not be as busy. Were we wrong! We never even got to go into the mansion as the lines were so long. The shuttle bus does NOT come every 15 minutes as promised, but every 45 minutes about - if you can even find a seat on board. This was a major problem because one person in our party was physically unable to make the entire walk around the plantation. Everywhere we went was beyond crowded. Also extremely disappointed that dogs are allowed pretty much everywhere on the place, including stores, food court, etc. Two people in our party are extremely allergic to dogs (potentially allergy/asthma attack that can send them to the hospital) and it was a nightmare. Many people did not control their dogs adequately. Even though a dog was on a leash, the owner let it go up and try to jump on people and did not apologize. I am also very surprised they let dogs in the crowded shops with all this delicate China and such on shelves that are dog height!?! Also you are not allowed to bring bottled soda/tea or food around, but dogs that are allowed to poop/pee everywhere? I am not against dogs at all, but they should be limited to a certain building or outside only to allow those with allergies to enjoy the attraction. The grounds are beautiful and the place is breathtakingly gorgeous, but they should limit the people they let in like they do at the Holocaust Museum (only allowing x number of people in at each time). If they have to charge more, so be it, but it was just way to crowded and poorly run. The boat ride was the best part, but you have to walk a lot to get there as the shuttle is not very reliable. Allergy/asthma sufferers, beware.

My husband and I are locals and decided to play tourist in the greater Washington, DC area over the 2009 Memorial Day weekend. It had been nearly 40 years since my parents took our family to Mount Vernon and I'd heard that since then, significant improvements had been made to George Washington's beautiful home on the Potomac. It was everything I'd imagined - and so much more. Not only did we find the grounds to be breathtakingly beautiful, they are obviously well cared-for. What's more impressive are the staff. Wow - these people are so very dedicated to their jobs, perform them with great professionalism and a deep knowledge of the estate. For me, the highlight came when we had an opportunity to speak with Martha Washington (okay, I know this sounds hokey) but the living actress really knew Martha, her husband, her family and many of the historical figures who touched her life. By the end, I was in tears just listening to her and for just a tiny moment, she really *was* Mrs. Washington. The new Museum and Education Center and the Orientation Center are both outstanding and well-done, though Americans might especially appreciate the wax figure recreations. We were unable to get into the mansion (on the day we visited, the waiting time in the line leading into the mansion was nearly 2-hours). We'll go back another time to view it. But there was so much more to see (though clearly the mansion is the centerpiece). The surrounding farmland and gardens; the wharf and surrounding buildings are all beautifully maintained. We came away with a much deeper appreciation for the Washington family - and of George in-particular. It's inspired us to re-visit our American History texts for more about this great man.