Maps of Movies
Back to the Future Part III (1990)
Where Back to the Future Part III says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
The 1885 Hill Valley is a set in California's Gold Country, the Monument Valley drive-in was built and torn down, and the locomotive is a real one
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Scenes and places
Doc's house, 1955 (1955)
Marty turns up in 1955 just after Doc has watched him vanish, and Doc refuses to believe he is real. Marty has to prove it with a letter Doc will write from 1885.
Set in Doc Brown's house, Hill Valley (1955) — The 1955 home of Dr. Emmett Brown, in the fictional town of Hill Valley.
The mansion where the 1955 Doc lives, seen only from the outside on this spot.
Filmed at Gamble House, Pasadena, California — A film-location blog names the Gamble House as the exterior of Doc's 1955 house; the interiors were studio sets. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The drive-in launch (1955)
Doc sends Marty toward the 1885 date on a plan to drive the DeLorean straight at the drive-in screen at 88 mph. Marty arrives to find horse-riding Native riders and cavalry on his heels, and the car's fuel line is torn.
Set in Drive-in, Hill Valley outskirts (1955) — An empty open field where a drive-in screen stands in 1955, with the 1885 prairie where Marty arrives.
A wide, treeless valley with sandstone buttes, the Western setting the film borrows for its 1885 arrival.
Filmed at Monument Valley, Utah — A full-size drive-in set was built in Monument Valley for the film and removed after shooting; the coordinate is the region's centre, not the set. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Valley landscape only; the set no longer exists.
Marty meets Mad Dog Tannen (1885)
Marty goes looking for his blacksmith friend and lands in the saloon where Buford Tannen drinks. Tannen takes offence at his clothes and at being called Mad Dog, and the stranger is made to dance.
Set in Saloon, Hill Valley (1885) — The Hill Valley saloon where a stranger in 1985 clothes asks for ice water.
The 1885 main street was a set built on a ranch near Sonora, and other scenes were shot in the real town of Jamestown.
Filmed at Red Hills Ranch set, near Sonora, California — The 1885 Hill Valley street, with the clock tower under construction, was a set built here; the buildings stayed after filming, the clock tower did not. The coordinate is the city of Sonora, not the set. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Filmed at Jamestown, California — Some of the 1885 town scenes were filmed in Jamestown. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Could a locomotive hit 88? (1885)
Doc works out how to get the DeLorean to 88 mph with no gasoline: push it with a steam locomotive. He quietly asks the stationmaster whether any engine could ever do it.
Set in Railway station, Hill Valley (1885) — The 1885 railway depot where Doc quizzes the stationmaster about train speed.
A preserved steam railroad in the Sierra foothills still runs the engine used in the film.
Filmed at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Jamestown, California — Sierra Railway locomotive no. 3 stood in for the Central Pacific 131 of the film; Railtown is the park where the railway scenes were shot. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Shonash Ravine (1885)
Doc finds a long level spur on his map that leads to a ravine with no bridge in 1885 but a bridge in 1985. His plan is to be at 88 mph when the track ends, so that the jump in time lands the car on solid ground.
Set in Shonash (Clayton) Ravine, Hill Valley (1885) — The unfinished ravine crossing where the track ends in 1885 and the bridge exists in 1985.
A fictional ravine; no source found for where it was filmed.
The clock dedication festival (1885)
The whole town gathers as the mayor dedicates the new courthouse clock, and Marty and Doc get a camera moment in front of it. Marty tries a gun stand, but Tannen is in town looking for him.
Set in Town festival, Hill Valley (1885) — Festival grounds in front of the new courthouse clock, with a shooting stand and dance floor.
A stage-set street with a courthouse clock tower; the tower was removed after filming.
Filmed at Red Hills Ranch set, near Sonora, California — The 1885 Hill Valley street, with the clock tower under construction, was a set built here; the buildings stayed after filming, the clock tower did not. The coordinate is the city of Sonora, not the set. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood backlot, Courthouse Square — Hill Valley town square (other eras) Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Port Hueneme railroad crossing, S Ventura Rd and Shoreview Dr — 1985 railroad crossing Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Doris Avenue, Oxnard, California — Hilldale street, 1985 Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at 9303 Roslyndale Avenue, Pacoima, California — Marty's family home, 1985 Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at 161 N Magnolia Avenue, Monrovia, California — A porch in Hilldale, 1985 Google Maps · Apple Maps
Characters
- Marty McFly — A teenager from 1985 who travels back to 1885 to find his friend.
- Dr. Emmett Brown — The inventor of the time machine, stuck in the Old West.
- Clara Clayton — The new schoolteacher arriving in Hill Valley.
- Buford Tannen — The 1885 gunman known as Mad Dog.