National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Released in 2007, "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," starring Nicolas Cage as Ben Gates the treasure hunter, is full of historic places.  Noteworthy places to visit include:

*    The Statue of Liberty in Paris

*    The Eiffel Tower in Paris

*    Arc de Triomphe in Paris

*    The Statue of Liberty in New York

*    Lancaster House in London

*    Buckingham Palace in London

*    Big Ben in London

*    The White House in Washington DC

*    The Capitol Building in Washington DC

*    Library of Congress in Washington DC

*    Mount Rushmore in South Dakota

Statue of Liberty Paris

One of the most fun places to visit from this movie is the Statue of Liberty in Paris.  It appears at 22 minutes into the movie.

This shot in the movie must have been taken from the water because it isn't possible to get far enough from the statue to take a photo while standing on land.  The Statue is almost at the very tip of the island.  Also, the Eiffel Tower is not nearly that close to the Statue.

In this shot from the movie either the Eiffel Tower of the Statue are added, because the two are not nearly that close to each other.  It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk from one to the other.

In the movie, Ben and Riley fly this drone around the Paris Statue of Liberty

They could have easily been standing right beside the Statue for this shot.  The Statue is only 9 meters high, only 1/4 the size of the Statue of Liberty in New York.

In this shot from the movie, Riley is trying to use the drone to read a secret message on the flame

This message is not really on the flame, it was created for the movie.

March 2025 at the Statue of Liberty in Paris

2025

View of the Seine and the Paris city lights from the edge of the man-made island

This is how close the Eiffel Tower actually is to the Paris Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty in Paris is free to visit and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  My blog post about the State of Liberty Paris:  Statue of Liberty in Paris

The Eiffel Tower

Perhaps the most famous tower in the world, it serves as a backdrop in the movie, although Ben and his gang do not actually visit the Eiffel Tower while in Paris.  In order for you to visit the Eiffel Tower, tickets cost 23.10 euro for a lift ticket to the second floor, or 36.10 euro for a lift ticket to the top floor.  Tickets are less expensive to use the stairs to climb to the second floor.  

As mentioned earlier, the Statue and Eiffel Tower are not nearly this close to each other, as the movie makes them appear.

The Eiffel Tower during filming of the 2007 movie

Standing on a bridge near the Eiffel Tower, Ben and Riley discuss a clue with police officers

The Eiffel Tower in March of 2025, soon after hosting the 2024 Olympic Games

The Eiffel Tower in 2025

Standing directly underneath the Eiffel Tower

This photo taken from the Eiffel Tower shows the tiny Statue of Liberty at the tip of the man-made island and just beyond the Grenelle Bridge.

Official website to purchase Eiffel Tower tickets:  Eiffel Tower

Arc de Triomphe in Paris

The Arc de Triomphe is featured only for a moment in the movie, just before 22 minutes.  The Arc de Triomphe hours are 10 am to 11 pm and it costs 16 euro to ride the lift to the top of the arc.  Just to stand beside the monument is no cost, and there are always individuals around it.  The Arc de Triomphe has also appeared in many other movies.

Arc de Triomphe shot from the movie in 2007

My family at The Arc de Triomphe in November of 2024

The Arc de Triomphe in November 2024

Official website to visit Arc de Triomphe:  Arc de Triomphe

Buckingham Palace in London, England

While Buckingham Palace is featured in the movie, and supposedly filming took place inside, the interior shots were actually made either on sets or at the nearby Lancaster House in London, England.  The exterior of Buckingham Palace was shown, particularly outside the gates.  It is not surprising that the royal family did not agree to allow filmmakers inside the Palace for filming.  I have been inside Buckingham Palace, and they do not allow photography so unfortunately I do not have photos to compare with these interior shots from the movie.  I haven't visited Lancaster House yet, but my understanding is that it is even more lavish than Buckingham Palace's actual interior.  I can't say for sure, but I will say that I was even more impressed with Buckingham Palace than with the Palace of Versailles.  It is very beautiful inside.

Shot from the movie that is supposed to be Buckingham Palace, but is actually Lancaster House in London

Nicolas Cage and Diane Kruger arguing inside Lancaster House while trying to create a scene inside Buckingham Palace in order to gain access to the queen's office

There are staircases similar to this inside Buckingham Palace.  It is easy to see why they would have chosen Lancaster House to double as the interior of Buckingham Palace

This was the Queen's office in the movie.  I suspect that it was actually a set built for the movie.

This actually is the exterior of Buckingham Palace, although I've never seen the gates open.  When touring the palace, you do not enter through the front gates.  You enter through a side entrance near the gift shop.

shot of Buckingham Palace in 2007 for the movie.

My daughter, husband, and I at Buckingham Palace in November of 2024

The gates of Buckingham Palace in November 2024

Buckingham Palace in November 2024

November 2024

To visit Buckingham Palace for a tour, their official website is here:  Buckingham Palace

Big Ben in London

Shot of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey from the movie in 2007

Big Ben and Westminster Abbey in November of 2024

The White House in Washington DC

Although the movie claims the Easter egg hunt was held on the lawn of the White House, filming actually did not take place at the White House at all.  The scene was filmed in California with the White House added in the background afterwards.  In the movie they enter the Oval Office as well, but this was just a set made for the movie.  No filming actually took place at the White House.

Shot from the movie in 2007 with the White House in the background

2007 shot from the movie

The set used for the Oval Office in the 2007 movie

The White House in the background in the 2007 movie

The White House in 2018 when my husband, my son, and I visited Washington DC

The north side of White House in 2018

The south side of the White House in 2018

We weren't taken in the Oval Office on our visit in 2018, of course, but this is the Red Room, one of the rooms that we visited on our tour.

The North Portico where we entered for our tour of the White House in 2018

This is the official website of the White House, although tickets to tour the White House need to be obtained through one of your state's congressmen:  White House

The Capitol Building in Washington DC

I haven't been able to find information about whether this scene was actually shot in front of the Capitol Building in Washington DC, but it is the real Capitol Building in the background.

The Capitol Building in 2018

My husband, son, and I at the Capitol Building in 2018

2018

2018

The official website for visiting the Capitol Building is here:  US Capitol Building

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is located in Keystone, South Dakota.  It plays a very large role in National Treasure: Book of Secrets.  Supposedly, the treasure is eventually found in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  In the movie it appears that there is a lake behind the presidents' heads, but that lake is actually several miles away from Mount Rushmore.  Also, when visiting Mount Rushmore you cannot get anywhere close to the presidents' heads.  And their heads are not hollow.  You can hike around the base of Mount Rushmore and look up at the heads from below, but you can't climb around on the mountain.  I've visited Mount Rushmore a few times and it is definitely worth a visit at least once in your life!  And most importantly, the movie actually was filmed on site at Mount Rushmore.

This is the actual trail that you hike on when visiting Mount Rushmore

This lake is made to appear to be behind the presidents' heads but it's actually several miles away

shot from the movie in 2007 at the lake where the treasure was located

This shot was filmed on site at Mount Rushmore.  Those flags behind her head are located at the entrance to the monument.

Shot from the movie - the presidents' heads are actually lit up at night.  In fact,  you can watch a special program at night that tells about the history of Mount Rushmore.

Shot from the movie complete with fireworks above the monument

Abigail sits on the very ledge that my family has sat on for photos during our visits to Mount Rushmore

The movie's shot from 2007 of Mount Rushmore

Our family at that same wall in 2006, before the film was made

Mount Rushmore in 2006

View of Mount Rushmore in 2021 from inside the Doane Robinson Tunnel

View of Mount Rushmore in 2021

The flags at the entrance to Mount Rushmore in 2021

To visit Mount Rushmore, visit their official website here:  Mount Rushmore

The Statue of Liberty in New York

For a brief moment, the Statue of Liberty in New York is shown in the film, when the man who is trying to beat Ben Gates to the treasure goes to the wrong Statue of Liberty.  

2007 filming for the movie

My daughters at the Statue of Liberty in 2022

To visit the Statue of Liberty in New York, view their official website here:  Statue of Liberty in New York