American Horror Story has proven to be one of the most popular horror TV shows to date, and quite possibly the biggest reason for this is its iconic backdrops. Settings often play a huge role in the horror genre, and American Horror Story is no exception.
With its spin-off, American Horror Stories, releasing new episodes along with new locations, there are more than a few iconic filming locations fans are allowed to visit. From Miss Robichaux's School to The Mott Mansion, the show definitely has filmed at some beautiful buildings and added their own spooky twists.
Miss Robichaux's Academy For Exceptional Young Ladies
The Buckner Mansion, located at 1410 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, was the set of "Coven", the third season. It was the home and school of the young witches and also featured in the show's tenth season, Apocalypse.
It was built in 1856 by Henry Sullivan Buckner, and he and his family lived there until 1923, when the house was turned into a school. It is now privately owned and rented out. There have been some reports of strange goings-on in the house, though, as guests report doors opening and closing on their own and lights turning on and off. There have even been cases of guests seeing a woman, allegedly once a slave in the house, sweeping floors. Definitely an interesting location to visit for die-hard fans of the show.
Murder House
Arguably the series' most iconic location, the Murder House from season 1 is a must-visit for any fan. The house was home to the Harmon family, along with various other spirits that come and go throughout the season. The actual house, named the Rosenheim Mansion, is located at 1120 Westchester Place, Los Angeles.
It was built in 1902 by German-American architect Alfred Rosenheim for him and his family before selling it on to A.J. McQuatters, and then to actor Edward Everett Horton in the 1930s. It was then bought by a group of nuns who added a chapel which was where the attic scenes from season one were filmed.
Briarcliff Asylum
The creepy mental asylum in Massachusetts featured in the show's second season is actually the classically beautiful Orange County Courthouse, located at 211 W Santa Ana Blvd in Santa Ana.
The building was built back in 1901 and is still in use as part of the county government. The building's dark bricks and Romanesque architecture serve as a perfect exterior for the season's bleak storyline. The production team did edit a few things, though. They added an extra floor and slightly altered the gables, although these are minor changes and the building is still very recognizable to fans of the season. The building was also used to film the disturbing interior scenes, and visitors can take a peek inside Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 4:30.
The Mott Manor
Most of the sets used in "Freak show" were unfortunately constructed for filming, so they can't be visited, but fans can still take a stroll through the building used to film the Mott's home. The Longue Vue House & Gardens is located in New Orleans, not Jupiter, Florida, but the overall feel of the building definitely fits the theme of Dandy's character.
The house was once owned by the Sears and Roebuck family, most well-known for creating the department store Sears. The interior of the house beautifully underscores the true evil of Dandy's psychotic character, with classic white walls and marble flooring.
Hotel Cortez
The Hotel Cortez, featured in the show's fifth season, is actually named the James Oviatt Building and is located in LA, California. The actual inside set of the hotel was built on a soundstage, so it isn't possible to visit, but the exterior shots of the cursed hotel were filmed at the James Oviatt Building.
The building was originally built for one of the most prestigious haberdasheries in the city in the 1920s. The former shop was converted into a restaurant in the late 1970s and is now named Cicada Restaurant. The hotel itself was based on the Cecil Hotel in LA, which was reportedly where the serial killer Richard Ramirez stayed, along with a long list of murders and suicides that have occurred there.
Madame LaLaurie's Mansion
The infamous Lalaurie Mansion is used as Madame Lalaurie's House of Horrors in "Coven", the third season. It was used as Lalaurie's torture chamber for her slaves in New Orleans in the 1830s. It is located at 1140 Royal Street, New Orleans. Doctor Louis Lalaurie and his wife Delphine moved in in 1832, and its dark history began.
According to real-life legend, the house went up in flames in 1834, and rescuers found the remains of slaves who were imprisoned in the attic. A group of angry residents of New Orleans ransacked the house and stole most of her possessions. Rumour has it Lalaurie fled the city and was never heard from again. Since then, it has been converted into a school, a barber shop, and was even owned by Nicholas Cage until he sold it back to pay back taxes.
Provincetown
The first part of the latest season, titled "Red Tide", follows a struggling writer and his family as they move to a sleepy town known as Provincetown, in Massachusetts, which is known for its beaches, and its artists. The town has previously made the news for being the home to a serial killer in the 1960s named Antone “Tony” Costa.
The story was filmed across 19 locations across Provincetown, including Pilgrim Monument, Winthrop Street Ceremony, and the center of town. The town has a rich history with art, and the show definitely takes this into account as Karen, considered a nuisance by the locals, is a talented painter, so this New England town serves as a perfect location for the setting.
The Muse Restaurant
One of the more used locations in the first half of season eleven is called the Muse Restaurant, which is located on Cape Cod. The original sign outside the restaurant read "The Mews Restaurant and Cafe" and is a beloved eatery for the residents.
It is known for its sea views and upstairs cafe. The director, Ryan Murphy, has a home in Provincetown, and when he is there, he has previously said that he frequents The Mews Restaurant himself. The interior that was used in the show is a lot bigger than the real restaurant. Some of the previous employees that have worked in the Mews have reported strange sounds that couldn't be explained in the building while working late, so definitely another interesting location to visit.
The Roanoke House
"Roanoke" tells the story of living on haunted land, a topic Ryan Murphy is all too familiar with. According to AHS lore, the house was constructed by Edward Philippe Mott, a distant relative of Gloria and Dandy Mott from Freak Show. The sixth season of American Horror Story takes place in the middle of nowhere, as the creators constructed a completely new house for filming.
It took four months to be built and decorated, as the house was decorated in 1590s colonial style, and as well as being used for exterior shots, the interior is completely furnished and functional rather than being built on a separate set. The actual house is supposed to be located in North Carolina, at 900 Sappony Road, Martin Country, but the set was built in the California forest.
The Butchery On Main
Ally and Ivy's restaurant, The Butchery on Main, is a mainstay throughout the seventh season, "Cult", and is where restaurant employee Roger was found murdered in the meat locker. The real building, however, is not an actual restaurant. It is located in Orange County, CA, at 102 N. Glassel Street.
The neighborhood it is situated in, Old Town Orange, hasn't changed much since the turn of the century, which the writers have said treasures its vintage image. The building was originally known as the Campbell Opera House, and a Masonic Temple has occupied its upper floors since 1923 and is still used today. It was recently home to a cosmetology school which has since moved to a new address.