Celebrating 15 years of the iconic romantic film, The Notebook, fans still cherish the timeless love story of Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton. While the novel is set in North Carolina, the movie magic unfolded primarily in Charleston, South Carolina, transforming the charming city into the fictional town of Seabrook. Producers were captivated by Charleston’s beauty, choosing it as the backdrop for this North Carolina-based narrative, creating “Seabrook, S.C.” as the movie’s heart. Despite real places named Seabrook and Seabrook Island existing in South Carolina, the Seabrook of The Notebook is a product of cinematic artistry, a fact often clarified by Seabrook Island itself due to frequent fan inquiries about the notebook where filmed.
To authentically portray their Southern characters, Canadian actors Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling immersed themselves in Charleston life before filming began. Gosling embraced the local spirit by rowing on the Ashley River and honing his woodworking skills – even crafting a table that made it into the movie. McAdams dedicated her time to ballet lessons, etiquette training, and mastering a Southern accent, ensuring their performances resonated with the nuances of South Carolinian culture for the notebook where filmed scenes.
Filming Locations in Charleston
Boone Hall Plantation, 1235 Long Point Rd.
Used for: The majestic exterior shots of the Hamilton family’s summer house and the heartwarming bike ride scene featuring Allie and Noah were filmed at the picturesque Boone Hall Plantation. This historic plantation, with its iconic avenue of oaks, provided the perfect idyllic setting for the early romance in the notebook where filmed.
Fun fact: Due to restrictions on photography and video recording inside Boone Hall Plantation, the production team utilized a separate location, the Calhoun Mansion, for all interior scenes of the Hamilton residence in the notebook where filmed.
Calhoun Mansion, 16 Meeting St.
Used for: Stepping inside the Hamiltons’ summer house in the notebook where filmed meant stepping into the opulent interiors of the Calhoun Mansion. This historic Charleston landmark provided the elegant backdrop for the indoor scenes of Allie’s family estate.
History: Constructed in 1876, the Calhoun Mansion boasts a rich history, serving various roles from a private residence to a hotel, and now a sought-after filming location and tourist attraction. Visitors today can explore its antique collections, offering a glimpse into the past within the very walls that framed scenes from the notebook where filmed.
Cypress Gardens, 3030 Cypress Gardens Rd.
Scene: The enchanting boat ride scene, a pivotal romantic moment between Noah and Allie, was filmed amidst the serene beauty of Cypress Gardens. This location is instantly recognizable for fans wondering the notebook where filmed the iconic water scenes.
Fun fact: Adding to the scene’s fairytale ambiance, the swans featured in the movie were not native to Cypress Gardens. Filmmakers acquired them as cygnets and raised them on a nearby lake specifically for this memorable scene in the notebook where filmed.
Martins Point Plantation, Private residence, Wadmalaw Island
Used for: Martins Point Plantation served as the exterior of the house Noah lovingly restored and built for Allie. This plantation home embodies the dream house central to the plot of the notebook where filmed.
Fun fact: In a surprising twist, Ryan Gosling, embodying the character’s passionate nature, playfully suggested that Noah should burn down the house after completing its extensive renovations, a dramatic idea that thankfully remained off-screen for the notebook where filmed.
College of Charleston, 66 George St.
Used for: The academic atmosphere of Allie’s college years was brought to life at the College of Charleston. While Allie’s character attended Sarah Lawrence College in New York in the storyline, producers opted for this Charleston-based institution for filming convenience, keeping the notebook where filmed primarily in the local area.
Fun fact: The beautiful campus of the College of Charleston offered a visually appealing and logistically sound alternative to Sarah Lawrence College, allowing the production to maintain its Charleston filming footprint for the notebook where filmed college scenes.
High Cotton, 199 E. Bay St.
Scene: The emotional scene where Noah catches a glimpse of Allie with her fiancé through a restaurant window was filmed at High Cotton. This elegant restaurant served as the backdrop for a poignant moment in the notebook where filmed.
Fun fact: Adding local flavor to the production, a manager from the Charleston restaurant Slightly North of Broad was cast as the maitre d’ in this particular scene from the notebook where filmed.
The American Theater, 446 King St.
Scene: Noah and Allie’s charming first date unfolded at The American Theater. This iconic theater provided the nostalgic setting for the beginning of their romance in the notebook where filmed.
Fun fact: Although no longer a functioning movie theater, The American Theater remains a popular venue, notably for marriage proposals. One can’t help but wonder if Noah would have considered this romantic spot for a 21st-century proposal, had the notebook where filmed been set in modern times.
King St.
Scene: The unforgettable scene of Noah and Allie dancing and lying in the street, right at a bustling intersection, took place on King Street. This vibrant street became an impromptu dance floor for the notebook where filmed.
Fun fact: To authentically recreate a period setting for the notebook where filmed, King Street was temporarily transformed with vintage parking meters, window signs, and even a temporary stoplight, enhancing the movie’s nostalgic atmosphere.
Old Village, Old Village Dr.
Used for: The quaint and charming Old Village in Mount Pleasant served as the visual inspiration for the fictional town of “Seabrook, SC” in the notebook where filmed. This location captured the essence of a close-knit Southern community.
Fun fact: Pitt Street Pharmacy in Old Village is the real-world location where Noah and Allie share a sweet ice cream date, further cementing Old Village’s role in bringing “Seabrook” to life for the notebook where filmed.
William Aiken House, 456 King St.
Scene: The William Aiken House provided the setting for the scene where Allie, while trying on wedding dresses, sees Noah’s picture in the newspaper. This elegant house added to the sophisticated ambiance of the notebook where filmed.
Fun fact: Intriguingly, the William Aiken House also functions as a wedding venue today. Hopefully, those trying on wedding dresses here have a happier experience than Allie in that scene from the notebook where filmed, avoiding any bathtub tears.
Black River Plantation, Private residence, Georgetown
Used for: Black River Plantation served as the poignant location for Allie’s nursing home in the later years of the story. This plantation, with its historical charm, provided a fitting backdrop for the emotional depth of the notebook where filmed nursing home scenes.
History: Known widely as Black River Plantation, this historic site has also been known by names like Rice Hope Plantation and Waddell Ranch, and once served as the International Paper Company House, showcasing a rich and varied past beyond its cinematic role in the notebook where filmed.
Experience The Notebook Magic
For fans eager to step into the world of The Notebook, Bulldog Tours offers a mini-guide to filming locations. Additionally, guided tours are available at Boone Hall Plantation, Cypress Gardens, and Calhoun Mansion. Pre-planned itineraries even allow you to spend a day emulating Allie and Noah’s Charleston experiences, bringing the romance of the notebook where filmed to life.
