Maps of Movies

American History X (1998)

Where American History X says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A story of Los Angeles gangs, filmed on a school campus and a jail rooftop in the city

Scenes and places

Danny's ultimatum at school (1997)

Danny writes an essay on Mein Kampf and is called in by principal Dr. Sweeney. Sweeney offers him a choice: study history with him under the name American History X, or be expelled. His first assignment is a paper about his brother Derek, who is about to leave prison.

Set in Danny's high school (unnamed) — The school where Danny is sent to the principal's office after writing an essay on Mein Kampf.

Venice High is a public school in west Los Angeles that has stood in for classrooms in several films.

Filmed at Venice High School, Los Angeles — The school used for filming, per its Wikipedia article. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The fire that changes Derek

Derek's firefighter father is shot while fighting a fire at a crack house. Derek then erupts in a televised, racially motivated tirade, and a neo-Nazi named Cameron takes him under his wing.

Set in A crack house in Compton — Where firefighter Dennis Vinyard is killed while putting out a fire. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Compton is a city south of downtown Los Angeles; the dot is the city centre, not the scene.

The basketball court game

Derek's gang grows quickly through his arguments. He challenges the Crips to a basketball game for the rights to a court in his Venice Beach neighborhood and wins.

Set in A basketball court in Derek's Venice Beach neighborhood — The neighborhood court Derek's crew plays for. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Venice is a beachfront neighborhood of west Los Angeles; the dot is the neighborhood centre.

Filmed at Venice Beach area, Los Angeles — Principal photography took place in Los Angeles and Venice Beach; the exact court is not stated in the source. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Derek behind bars (1994)

Sentenced for voluntary manslaughter, Derek joins the Aryan Brotherhood but befriends a Black inmate, Lamont, in the prison laundry. Disillusioned by the gang, he turns away from it and pays for it.

Set in California Institution for Men, Chino — The prison the article names as a major setting of the film. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The jail is in the Lincoln Heights neighbourhood of Los Angeles; the story prison is the California Institution for Men in Chino.

Filmed at Lincoln Heights Jail, Los Angeles — Some prison scenes were shot on its roof. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Characters

• Derek Vinyard — A neo-Nazi gang leader from Venice Beach who serves three years in prison.
• Danny Vinyard — Derek's younger brother, a high school student drawn into the same gang.
• Dr. Bob Sweeney — The school principal and outreach worker who tries to reach both brothers.