National Treasure

National Treasure was created in 2004 and stars Nicholas Cage, Diane Kruger, and Justin Bartha.  I love movies like this, that combine history with adventure -- and luckily, most of this movie's historical information is accurate -- although not completely.  They did have to bend history in the case of a few specifics in order to make the plot work.  For instance, the Silence Dogood letters aren't really housed in the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.  And obviously there is not really a treasure map on the back of the Declaration of Independence, or spectacles hidden at Independence Hall, etc.  But this movie will keep the interest of history buffs anyway, and it's really fun to have been to some of the filming sites from the movie.  The first National Treasure movie was filmed in a variety of locations, including Boston, Massachusetts, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and others.

*    Boston, Massachusetts

*    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

*    Washington DC

*    New York City

*    Strawberry Reservoir in Utah  

Boston, Massachusetts

I visited Boston in October 2025 and was specifically interested in the Old North Church because of its significance in the film.  The church is located at 193 Salem Street in Boston.  Their official website is here:  Old North Church  The google maps location is here:  Old North Church location  It costs $10 to visit the church in combination with the Crypt.  In the movie, Ben Gates throws off the villain Ian by making him believe the treasure was hidden underneath Old North Church.  He used a false clue about the two lanterns used as a signal by Paul Revere.  Here is the scene from the movie at Old North Church:  National Treasure at Old North Church

Old North Church in Boston:

Old North Church

Inside Old North Church

The window that Robert Newman escaped through

This is said to be the most correct likeness of George Washington anywhere

The area outside the church

Inside the crypt of Old North Church

Washington DC

Filming sites for National Treasure in Washington DC include:

*    Washington Monument

*    Jefferson Memorial

*    Lincoln Memorial

*    National Archives Museum

*    Library of Congress

You could walk between the five Washington DC filming locations in about an hour and a half.

We went on a Segway Tour through Washington DC several years ago.  We went to several different locations on segways, which was a unique way to tour DC.  The Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln monuments/memorials were part of the tour.  We've also just walked around Washington DC to see the various sights.  

This scene from the movie shows Washington DC sites such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives where the Declaration of Independence is housed:  National Treasure in Washington DC

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Filming sites for National Treasure in Philadelphia include:

*    Independence Hall

*    The Franklin Institute

*    Old Pine Street Churchyard

You can walk to the three filming locations in Philadelphia in less than an hour:

The Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute is where the Silence Dogood letters are housed. They are letters created by Benjamin Franklin when he was sixteen years old. He wanted to write for his brother's newspaper, but his brother wouldn't allow it, so he used this pseudonym.  The letters play a very important plot in the film.  In the movie, the letters are kept at the Franklin Institute, which is located here:  Franklin Institute  In real life, the letters are housed in the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society.  You can read the original letters at this website:  Silence Dogood Letters  We visited Philadelphia in 2018, and although we didn't go inside the Franklin Institute, we did get some photos of the outside and of the Swann Memorial Fountain in front of it.  Here is the National Treasure Scene at the Franklin Institute:  National Treasure at Franklin Institute

The Swann Memorial Fountain is located in Logan Square right next to the Franklin Institute

The fountain was created in 1924 in honor of Dr. Wilson Cary Swann who built fresh water sources for the city.

From this viewpoint you can see the Philadelphia Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints behind the fountain.  

The Franklin Institute is visible in this photo

The Franklin Institute is viewed behind the fountain in this photo

The Franklin Institute on our visit to Philadelphia in 2018

Independence Hall

When we visited Philadelphia in 2018, we wanted to see the Liberty Bell and visit Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.  In the National Treasure movie, Ben Gates finds hidden spectacles at Independence Hall, and uses them to read "the map" on the back of the Declaration of Independence in the room it was originally signed in.  The official website of Independence Hall is here:  Independence Hall and its location is here:  Independence Hall  The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall appear in the movie in this scene:  National Treasure at Independence Hall

View of Independence Hall while standing in Independence National Historic Park

My husband, son James, and myself in 2018 standing in front of Independence Hall and the statue of George Washington

My son at the John Barry statue at Independence Hall.  He was the first commissioned officer of the US Navy.

My son at Independence Hall in 2018

George Washington in front of Independence Hall

The Liberty Bell, my husband, son, and myself in 2018

The Liberty Bell was created in 1753.  It cracked in 1846 and has not been rung since.  The bell originally hung in Independence Hall, but now resides in a nearby building, the Liberty Bell Center. The Centennial Bell now hangs in Independence Hall.

The official website of the Liberty Bell Center is here:  Liberty Bell Center

New York

Filming sites for National Treasure in New York include:

*    The Statue of Liberty

*    Trinity Church at Broadway & Wall Street

*    The Intrepid

Broadway Street used to be named Heere Street, so when Ben Gates discovers the clue that says "Heere at the Wall," he knows that it is actually referring to Broadway.  Trinity Church does not actually have five levels of winding staircases hidden beneath it, but you can visit the church here:  Trinity Church and their official website is here:  Trinity Church New York  In case you're wondering, there is not any real person named Parkington Lane.  He was created for the movie.  Also, the Freemasons that are buried at the church are not buried inside the church, but rather in the grounds outside the church.  Here's one of the scenes inside Trinity Church:  National Treasure Ben with FBI in Trinity Church

The USS Intrepid is located here:  Intrepid Museum  The USS Intrepid is a WWII aircraft carrier that was highlighted in the movie when Ben Gates jumps off its deck into the Hudson River, to be met by Ian Howe.  The official website is here:  Intrepid Museum  Here is a film from the movie at the USS Intrepid and Hudson River:  National Treasure at USS Intrepid

The Statue of Liberty is only shown for a few seconds in the movie, just to represent that they are in New York.  All 3 of the New York filming sites are located within a one hour drive of each other:

The official website of the Statue of Liberty is here:  Statue of Liberty  I haven't ever been on Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty up close, although I have admired it from the New York coast line many years ago when I was in high school:

My daughters at the Statue of Liberty in 2022

My view of the Statue of Liberty on a family trip to New York in the 80's

Utah

Only one filming site for National Treasure was located in Utah:

*    Strawberry Reservoir

Here is the scene from the movie filmed at Strawberry Reservoir:  National Treasure in Utah

Strawberry Reservoir is located near Heber, Utah and is a popular fishing spot.  It is the fifth largest lake in Utah.  Strawberry Reservoir was created by damming the Strawberry River, so it is a completely man-made reservoir.  It is located here:  Strawberry Reservoir