Where was Mindhunter filmed? Guide to all the Filming Locations
Posted by Ra Moon
Criminals are born or are they form? Netflix’s outstanding new drama Mindhunter, featuring a great soundtrack and plenty of vintage cars, tells the story of the formation of an elite FBI Serial Crime Unit.
Mindhunter was filmed primarily in and around Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. The 10-episode first season was set in scattered places all over the U.S, as the agents travel across the country teaching new techniques to local cops. Season 2 is set in the early '80s, covering the Atlanta murders of 1979–81.
Mindhunter was filmed primarily in and around Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. The 10-episode first season was set in scattered places all over the U.S, as the agents travel across the country teaching new techniques to local cops. Season 2 is set in the early '80s, covering the Atlanta murders of 1979–81.
The thriller starts with two FBI teachers discovering that serial killers who have been captured, might actually have a little more info than they can clean.
The agents start using them as case studies to find other assassins. Awarded film director David Fincher (Fight Club, House of Cards) is producing this series, starring Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford, Holt McCallany as Bill Tench, and Anna Torv as Wendy Carr.
We've tried our best to keep spoilers at bay in this comprehensive guide to the filming locations of Mindhunter.
Click here to go directly to the season 2 locations. If you are looking for the season 1 locations and the ones that are featured in the series from the beginning, just keep reading:
The FBI headquarters interiors, Holden’s apartment, and some other sets were built at 31st Street Studios in the Strip District of Pittsburgh.
The exterior shots of the FBI research center in Quantico (Virginia), were filmed in the old VA Hospital in Highland Dr (Lincoln–Lemington–Belmar neighborhood).
In the first episode, Holden visits Charlottesville (Virginia), filmed at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, PA.
This is the same location where The Chair series was filmed.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
There are more scenes filmed at Washington and Jefferson College. The John A. Swanson Science Center was transformed into a college in Boston.
Another scene from episode 3 was filmed at Lazear Hall, also located on the same campus. Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
Also in S1E01, Debbie and Holden leave the building where the band was playing in the George Washington Hotel at S. Main Street and Cherry Street (Washington).
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The couple goes to the Oaks Theater in Oakmont (Pennsylvania) to watch Al Pacino's Dog Day Afternoon.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
A building in Lysle Boulevard of McKeesport served as the Sacramento Police Department in California.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
Kittanning's Market Street and Armstrong County Courthouse appear in several central episodes as Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
Also, some shots for the 5th episode in Altoona were filmed at Noble Street in Swissvale.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The former State Correctional Institution Greensburg (PA), doubled as the Salem Oregon State Penitentiary.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The elementary school from episode 8 is Shaffer Elementary at 37 Garden Terrace in Pittsburgh, which was permanently closed in 2018.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
In one of the last scenes from the same episode, the Porter Hall building from Carnegie Mellon University served as the set for late 1970s George Washington University.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The neo-Gothic prison compound of West Virginia State Penitentiary (in Moundsville) was used for some external shots for the Joliet Correctional Center in Illinois.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
Scenes from episode 10 when Wendy and Holden travel to Rome (Georgia), were filmed at Butler County Courthouse.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
Agent Tench's house is located in Mt. Lebanon (PA). Some more filming for the first season took place at Massart's Restaurant and Pollock Lodge in Tarentum, the 5th Avenue in Coraopolis became Fredericksburg (Virginia).
The shopping scene from episode 10 was shot at Sprankle's Market in Vandergrift.
Season 2 Filming Locations
In the second season, the Attica Correctional Facility was shot at the old Western Pen, SCI Pittsburgh.
The Omni International Hotel was filmed in the underground parking garage of the Galleria in Mt. Lebanon. However, the interior was filmed at the Century III Mall in West Mifflin, now permanently closed.
Image courtesy of Netflix - Western Pen Map - Mall Map
This location was the hardest to find: As you can see, the street of the old Chrysler Plymouth dealer in Atlanta had a lot of CGI. It's located at 101 S Main St in Sharpsburg.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The old Juke City store in Atlanta is located at 519 Merchant Street in Ambridge.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The church from S2E03 is the Mt Lebanon Christian Church. The Atlanta skyline was CGI'd behind it.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The San Francisco Airport terminal building of the fifth episode is the old Monroeville Mall.
The mall is most famously known as the site where the original Dawn of the Dead 1978 film by George Romero was shot (thank you, Paul!).
Also, there's a short scene with Wendy and Kay driving through the street where the Strand Theater in Zelienople appears in the background.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The Stoneridge Resort in Virginia (S2E06) is the Longue Vue Club in Verona.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The march from S02E07 was filmed in the streets of Wilkinsburg borough. The church is the South Avenue United Methodist.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
In S02E08 there is a scene filmed in the Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor in the Strip District.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The theater from S02E08 is the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is also the city where Happiest Season was filmed.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The car chase from the last episode starts in Hamilton Avenue in Homewood, where it seems that some streets haven't changed much in the last 40 years.
The airport was shot at the Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin (thanks Gary for the info!).
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The outdoor scenes at the bridge from S2E08 were filmed at Douglas Run Road and Blythedale Road by Driscoll and Sons Cafe in Elizabeth in Sutersville.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The press conference in Atlanta's city hall from S02E09 was filmed in the Allegheny County Courthouse also in Pittsburgh.
The series is based on the nonfiction book of the same title, written by former agents John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker.
Image courtesy of Netflix and Ronald Woan - Map
Can you help to improve this article about the shooting locations of Mindhunter? To complete and correct this report, any feedback, info, or images that you may have are more than welcome, thank you!
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NOTICE: If you’re using this information on your website, please credit and link to this page as a source.
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Ra Moon
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Definitely scenes filmed in Ritter's Diner, Gooskis bar in Polish Hill and Kelly's bar in East Liberty
ReplyDeleteI was the Driver on one of the scooting trips. The FBI Building is located off the parkway near Monroeville.
DeleteWe were in New Kensington at a junk yard, which they used in the first season. They also looked at the court house. I think I saw the house in a neighborhood in Monroeville. It was odd, we sat in front in the vehicle as someone kept peaking out the living room window. We visited several diners, prisons and spent time in McKeesport.
DeleteThanks, but can you be more specific about the location of the FBI building, please?
DeleteThe FBI building is the old VA Hospital off of Washington Boulevard across from the zone 5 police station in Pittsburgh.
DeleteSecond season there’s a scene where Tench runs to the Atlanta Airport. It looks like a lower entrance into monroeville mall.
DeleteAnonymous is 100% right about the airport scene at the beginning of season 2 episode 2. I was at Monroeville Mall the day they were filming that.
DeleteI’m in RVA (Richmond, Virginia), and while the scenes set in RVA are similar, it’s clear they’re not actually in Richmond. Not out of the ordinary, but was curious where in the country looked so similar.
ReplyDelete👮 station pizza and maple restaurant in Ambridge are seen in this series.
ReplyDeleteWhat episode has Ambridge in it
DeleteThe diner in front of the tower bridge / the tower bridge was definitely Sacramento, but I do not no of that diner here, I'm guessing it was a composite shot.
ReplyDeleteYou're correct it was a composite. The actual diner is the YAK diner in North Apollo, PA. If you go on Google you'll see photos of Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany in the diner the night they filmed there.
DeleteHow could you miss the Oaks theater in Oakmont from episode 1?
ReplyDeleteYou're right, thanks John!
DeleteThe Quantico interior and exterior shots look a lot like Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia
ReplyDeleteYour exterior shots of the FBI academy (2nd photo in this series) were filmed at the Department of Veterans Affairs Highland Drive campus (now a closed facility) off of Washington Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA
ReplyDeleteThe UVA set is laughable and doesn’t look remotely like The Grounds of the school.
ReplyDeleteThe Lanplighter in Delmont PA.
ReplyDeleteYes, the lamp later in delmont on route 22. The dining Room scene was in the dining Room off of the bar and the outside scene was in front of the coffee shop
DeleteThe car crash after visiting Montie Rissell took place near the gothic prison, right here: https://goo.gl/maps/qZeEM9mRpEq. Oddly enough, the car that hit them comes from the prison direction, while they (supposed to be leaving the prison) come from a wrong direction.
ReplyDeleteDebbie’s house is in Shadyside on S Atlantic Ave.
ReplyDeleteFriendship s Atlantic ave
DeleteWe used to live in a third floor apartment in that house. The owner at the time we lived there (we moved out in 1999) was a retire Pittsburgh Police Officer and a member of the bomb squad. It was owned at one time Lillian Russell, who died in 1922.
DeleteSome shots are filmed at the former western penitentiary or sci pittsburgh
ReplyDeleteShot a scene last night (7/12/2018) in Zelienople to catch the Strand Theatre marquis. The Coming Attractions poster at the theater advertised Coal Miner's Daughter and the Blues Brothers Movie. The marquis had La Cage Aux Folles.
ReplyDeletedoes anyone know what episode this is
DeleteI was coming here to look for this too. I had a picture I took while watching the series now can’t find it or locate episode number
DeleteHey guys, it's episode 5, season 2. It's just a scene with Wendy and Kay driving through the street with the theater marquee in the background.
DeleteThe interior library shot was filmed in Hillman Library at the University of Pittsburgh. Did a lot of late nights there, so I would know those wooden walls anywhere.
ReplyDeleteWas driving down Bryant st in Pgh got some pics of the cars lined up on the street
ReplyDeleteA scene where they're seen walking into the airport was filmed in the Galleria Mall parking lot in Mt. Lebo PA.
ReplyDeleteA lot of filming was done in Ambridge Pa. The police station was used as well as Maples restaurant. My daughter did some extra work.
ReplyDeleteKool. It's always interesting to hear about the background of the filming and about the extras in movies. Lots of movies are filmed in Virginia too. My daughter n I were extras in Colonial Era movie set and filmed in Colonial Williamsburg, The Broken Chain (1993). Pretty neat.
DeleteOK, OK... personal history: got laid in Porter Hall 100... behind the scene during "Glen and Glenda" or some damn thing, circa 1975? Who knows?
ReplyDelete(Spoiler Free) House for sale (wink) by Mrs. Tench is in West Homestead, PA
ReplyDeleteSFO in season 2 is actually The Monroeville Mall.
ReplyDeleteThe movie theater that the girls went to for a date was The Strand in Zelienople.
ReplyDeleteSeason 2 Episode 4. They walk into Juke City a closed business on Merchant St Ambridge
ReplyDeleteI saw them filming on 8th Avenue in Homestead last summer. Does Homestead have any scenes?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what street the chrysler plymouth dealer is?
ReplyDeleteI think that's in sharpsburg if you look on same side of street you see a sign for jennys a hotel slash bar.
DeleteWow, finally! Thanks a lot for your help finding this one :]
DeleteStoneridge Resort VA is Longvue Country Club.
ReplyDeleteSo why weren't the Altoona scenes filmed in Altoona? It's fairly close to Pittsburgh.
ReplyDeleteMall scenes are at Century 3 mall in West Mifflin. It recently closed after years of falling apart.
ReplyDeleteWondering if the parking garage entrance to the Omni Hotel is actually a Century III Mall entrance. You can see an escalator with people inside. I think it might be one of the Sears entrances. The Omni lobby was definitely inside Century III. I was an extra in one of those scenes.
ReplyDeleteI think the Virginia church (Tench's) is in Fox Chapel.
ReplyDeleteTaylor’s motel on route 30 in North Versailles was in the last episode of season 2
ReplyDeleteS2 episodes 8&9 - outdoor scenes at bridge are at Douglas Run Road and Blythedale Road by Driscoll & Sons Cafe in Elizabeth - Sutersville
ReplyDeleteOutside shots of Altoona police department in season one is the old police station in the strip @ 2608 Penn Ave.
ReplyDeleteThe last photo on this page isn't captioned, but it is Mt Lebanon Christian Church. "Atlanta" skyline was CGI'd behind it. https://goo.gl/maps/xXGT63ddgXAbGsxT6
ReplyDeleteI have pics but don't know where to send them. The exterior of the building that Wayne walks out of after being interviewed and released where he stares at the throng of press and then gets into the car is the old Bell Telephone building in downtown Pittsburgh. It is now a charter school and apartments.
ReplyDeleteThanks, you can contact us at atlasofwonders@gmail.com
DeleteTench’s church is Sunset Hills Presbyterian Church in Mt Lebanon- both interior and exterior shots.
ReplyDeleteThe exterior shot of the recording studio Ford and Barney conduct an interview in is at the corner of 28th and Penn Ave. Catty-corner from Klavon's.
ReplyDeleteWhere were the bar scenes in Season 2 Episodes 1, 2, and 3 filmed?
ReplyDeleteWhere was Wayne Williams' house filmed? I swear it looks like a street in the South Hills.
ReplyDeleteId like to know as well . Yes yes i just finished season 2 now.
DeleteYou can hear I train whistle blowing during different scenes. I am thinking somewhere near Kennywood/West Mifflin. The address on the house is 1817 or 817 but I haven’t seen a street sign.
DeleteJust finished the series and wanted to know about that house. There are some streets like that around Churchill/Penn Hills area. Not sure the exact neighborhood. It's been years since I was there.
DeleteIt’s actually in a neighborhood in West Mifflin on Bluemont Dr., which is about 10 min from Century III mall. I grew up on the next street over.
DeleteThe scene of Holden and Debbie crossing the street to the shoe store to get the “high heels” was filmed by Jaison’s store on 5th Ave in Mckeesport.
ReplyDeleteS01Ep4 Diner Scene is K and N Restaurant in Ambridge ( Find All Episode Scene Shots: https://recapguide.com/recap/537/MINDHUNTER/season-1/episode-4/ )
ReplyDeleteAs a transplant to Pittsburgh I have delighted in all the geographic and neighborhood diversity here. And our town is genuinely friendly and proud of our film industry contribution. Come and see what we have to offer with modesty.
ReplyDeleteThe dump in season 1 episode 4 is P J Greco Sons (593 Tarrtown Rd, Kittanning, PA)
ReplyDeleteBill Tench & Wife Nancy ate dinner at Lamplighter Restaurant Season1 on Rt22
ReplyDeleteThe Lamplighter Restaurant
6566 William Penn Hwy, Delmont, PA 15626
(724) 468-4545
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zqUy8Lpqb6MsFDay6
Bridge in Layton, near Perryopolis is also used in Season2 Atlanta Scenes
ReplyDeleteIn season 1 episode 1 there was a restaurant with cookie jars behind them in the shot
ReplyDeleteEpisode driving around for children is Bedford Dwellings on Bedford Avenue in the Hill District
ReplyDeleteAll comments are reviewed prior to publication