Where was Pollyanna filmed?

The opening scene of the Disney classic showcases the beautiful landscape of Napa Valley. We are introduced to Jimmy Bean (Kevin “Moochie” Corcoran). He is seen rolling his hoop with a stick along the countryside as he makes his way to the Harrington Railroad station. The stunning backdrop of the Napa countryside adds to the nostalgic atmosphere of the movie.

The large water wheel featured in this sequence was filmed at Bale Grist Mill, a state historical park three miles north of St. Helena in Napa Valley. The grist mill is one of California’s oldest surviving water-powered mills and was constructed in 1846 by Dr. Edward Turner Bale on the property from Rancho Carne Humana land grant.

Since then, it has been partially restored and is now protected as a historic landmark where visitors can explore its 36-foot water wheel and enjoy its serene setting among nature trails and picnic spots.

You will find the Bale Gist Mill at Highway 29, just three miles north of downtown Saint Helena in California’s wine country region. If you're in San Francisco, enjoy a private car ride on Highway 29 for around an hour to get there. Or if you’re coming from Santa Rosa via Calistoga Rd and CA-128 E, the journey will take only 30 minutes.

The scene where Pollyanna arrives n the town of Harrington is a crucial moment in the film. It marks the beginning of her journey from a bleak life to discovering joy and finding true family and friendship. As soon as she steps off the train, she meets Nancy (Nancy Olson) and the gardener Thomas (Nolan Leary) who have been sent to pick her up. The welcoming experience sets the tone for her new life in Harrington.

The iconic train station in the movie was filmed at 1510 Railroad Avenue in St. Helena, California. It still stands today and is recognizable due to its unique architecture - a two-story building built of red brick with white painted trim. Tucked away in time, the charming town still looks much like it did almost sixty years ago when it hosted the Pollyanna production team.

Many of its original buildings remain standing, offering a view into history as one of California's oldest railroad stations since 1895. This picturesque area continues to honor its transportation past and stands proud as an iconic beacon for Americana culture.

St Helena is accessible by car via I-80 W and CA-29 N, which connects California’s major cities like Sacramento and San Francisco, or via St Helena Rd and Spring Mountain Rd, if you travel from Santa Rosa.

Pollyanna's eyes gleamed with delight as she arrived at Aunt Polly's three-story mansion. When Nancy Furman (Nancy Olson), the housekeeper, sternly orders her to stay in the hall without touching anything while she informs Aunt Polly of her arrival, Pollyanna is awestruck! That moment is when the young girl met her strict and humorless aunt for the first time.

The filmmakers chose a 14,000-square-foot mansion, located at 1015 McDonald Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA, in the United States, to represent Aunt Polly’s house onscreen. They employed matte painting and special effects during post-production to fabricate a more comprehensive look for the home. To accurately portray the lavish interiors of this mansion, however, filming was done at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.

To get to the movie location, take highway 101 North from San Francisco and take exit 459 for Steele Lane towards Santa Rosa. Turn left onto Steele Lane and then turn left onto McDonald Avenue. The destination will be on your right after about 1 mile. Additionally, you can also take public transportation via Golden Gate Transit buses or Sonoma County Transit from San Francisco or Oakland to Santa Rosa directly. Once you reach Santa Rosa city center, you could take local transit buses to reach McDonald Avenue, where you'll find the house that is featured in some of the famous scenes from Pollyanna.

As the maid ushers Pollyanna (Hayley Mills) into her room, she is thrilled to have a place to call her own and an inviting bed. When looking out from the highest floor of Aunt Polly's mansion, however, what Pollyanna sees makes her gasp in astonishment - Nancy embracing a stranger at the neighboring park’s white gazebo.

Aunt Polly's expression reveals anger and disappointment as she gazes at them. To emphasize this scene's impact on both characters, it's filmed at Walnut Park with its idyllic setting, surrounded by trees and greenery, with a quaint gazebo as the centerpiece.

Walnut Park is located in downtown Petaluma, California, at the corner of Petaluma Boulevard South and D Street. From May to November, the Park hosts a seasonal Farmer's Market each Saturday! In December, it plays host to Hospice Sonoma County’s annual "Light Up a Life" event.

If driving to the Park, it is located right at the intersection of Petaluma Boulevard South and D Street. If taking public transport, buses frequently run on routes 10 & 11, which stop right outside Walnut Park, or you can take either routes 52 or 54 & alight at Sonoma Mountain Parkway & Petaluma Blvd S/D Street Intersection - just a few minute's walk from Walnut Park itself.

The scene of Aunt Polly and Pollyanna shopping in the department store was a highly iconic moment in the movie. It showed the stark contrast between Aunt Polly's formal, reserved manner and Pollyanna's enthusiasm for all things new. Store consultants were eager to help them find proper clothing for Pollyanna, which Aunt Polly would give her approval to with a nod. Pollyanna emerges from a changing room in her underwear at one particular moment. While Aunt Polly initially scolds her, no one else bats an eyelid when she continues trying on hats wearing just her underwear.

This scene was filmed at 500 South Buena Vista Street in Burbank, California, at a studio backlot/movie set owned by Disney. This is a central film production hub that has hosted several other famous movies, including "Pretty Woman" (1990), "The Rocketeer" (1991), and "Catch Me If You Can" (2002).

To get to this filming location from the Los Angeles city center, take the 5 Freeway north towards Ventura County for about 30 minutes until you reach Buena Vista Street; turn right onto the street and follow it until you see the Walt Disney Studios sign on your left-hand side where you should turn into the lot entrance. Plenty of parking spots are available inside and outside the property's perimeter walls.

The scene in the movie takes place in a church where the Preacher (Karl Malden) delivers one of his fiery sermons. This starkly contrasts Pollyanna’s usual experiences with religion, as her father was more focused on finding good things to preach about.

The whole scene is both comical and frightening; you can feel an ominous atmosphere from the preacher's words to the blast he makes. Even the chandelier shakes, thanks to Malden's booming voice!

The church scene was shot at a studio backlot/Pollyanna movie set at Walt Disney Studios on 500 South Buena Vista Street. This is an iconic location where Disney movies have been filmed for decades. While no guided tours are available due to safety precautions, visitors can walk around and see all the different sets used for various classic films.

From the center of Los Angeles, take a 30-minute drive north on the 5 Freeway towards Ventura County, then turn right onto Buena Vista Street. You'll find the Walt Disney Studios sign to your left - don't forget to make that all-important turn into their lot entrance!