Maps of Movies

Citizen Kane (1941)

Where Citizen Kane says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Most of the rooms in the film were built in a Hollywood studio; the real places are a San Diego zoo and one castle's photographs.

Scenes and places

Xanadu, the mansion where it begins (1941)

Kane dies alone in his enormous mansion, whispering one word: "Rosebud". The mystery of that word sets the whole film in motion.

Set in Xanadu, Florida (fictional estate) — The vast Florida estate where Kane lives out his last years, and where the film opens.

Xanadu is an invented palace; the film shows it only through miniatures, sets and photographs.

Filmed at Oheka Castle, Huntington, New York (Long Island, Huntington, New York, United States) — Still photographs of this castle, not new filming, stand in for Xanadu in the opening montage. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The News on the March screening room (1941)

In a dark screening room, newsreel men watch the obituary film on Kane and find it empty. Their boss sends reporter Thompson to find out what "Rosebud" meant.

Set in News on the March screening room (fictional newsreel studio) — A dark projection room where newsreel men watch Kane's obituary film and decide it lacks an angle.

A projection room of a fictional newsreel company, shown mostly in shadow.

The nightclub where Susan won't talk (1941)

Thompson sits down with Susan Alexander Kane, who runs the club, and gets thrown out. He leaves without a word from her.

Set in El Rancho nightclub, Atlantic City — Thompson tries to talk to Kane's second wife, Susan Alexander Kane, at the nightclub she runs.

The El Rancho is a fictional club; the coordinates are those of Atlantic City, the city the script names, not a building.

Thatcher Memorial Library (1941)

Thompson is allowed an hour with the banker's private memoirs. They open onto Kane's childhood.

Set in Thatcher Memorial Library, Philadelphia (fictional) — A library holding the private memoirs of banker Walter Parks Thatcher, Kane's old guardian.

The library is an invented institution; the coordinates are the city's, not a building's.

The boarding house in the snow (1941)

Young Charles plays in the snow while his mother signs papers inside. Told he must leave with the banker Thatcher, he hits him with his sled.

Set in Mary Kane's boarding house, Colorado — The snowy yard where young Charles plays with his sled while his mother signs him over to a banker.

A mining-country boarding house run by Kane's mother.

Bernstein and the New York Inquirer (1941)

Old Bernstein remembers Kane taking over a failing paper and hiring the best journalists money could buy. He points Thompson toward Kane's friend Leland.

Set in New York Inquirer and Bernstein's office, New York (fictional newspaper) — The newspaper Kane buys and remakes, recalled by his general manager Bernstein.

The Inquirer is a fictional paper; the coordinates are the city's, not a building's.

Leland in the retirement home (1941)

Leland, frail and sharp, tells Thompson that he was Kane's oldest friend and that Kane behaved badly toward him. Then he begins to remember the old days.

Set in Retirement home where Leland lives, New York (fictional) — Kane's former best friend Jedediah Leland, now old, recalls how their friendship fell apart.

A fictional hospital the script places on 180th Street.

Susan's apartment stairs (1941)

Running for governor, Kane has been meeting Susan, a young singer. Boss Gettys confronts him on her stairs and threatens to expose it. Kane shouts back.

Set in Susan Alexander's apartment building, New York (fictional) — In Leland's memory, Kane confronts the political boss Gettys at the stairs of Susan's apartment.

A fictional apartment building, known mainly through its staircase.

The Chicago opera house (1941)

Kane builds a huge opera house for Susan and pushes her onto the stage. She is out of her depth, and the audience and critics see it.

Set in Chicago Opera House (fictional) — The grand opera house Kane has built so that Susan can sing on its stage.

A fictional house; the coordinates are the city's, not a building's.

Filmed at San Diego Zoo, San Diego (Balboa Park, San Diego, California, United States) — Location filming (scene not stated) Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Balboa Park, San Diego (Balboa Park, San Diego, California, United States) — Location filming (scene not stated) Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Paramount Pictures lot (Stage 19), Hollywood (Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States) — Most interiors Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Charles Foster Kane — A newspaper publisher whose last word sends a reporter hunting for his story.
• Jerry Thompson — A newsreel reporter sent to find out what "Rosebud" meant.
• Susan Alexander Kane — A singer who becomes Kane's second wife.