The Birds · 1963
Set in Bodega Bay.
Filmed in Bodega.
The two scenes everyone pictures from Alfred Hitchcock's ‘The Birds,’ the crows swarming the schoolhouse and the church on the rise, were filmed here in the inland village of Bodega, not the coastal town the film is named for. The water is Bodega Bay, five miles west. The rest is San Francisco and the Universal lot.
Explore the filming locations
Explore Bodega
Start anywhere.
It all connects.
Every part of the village has its own page. Follow the history back to Kennekono, walk the historic loop, find the bar and the bakeries, or plan the drive up from San Francisco.
A Living Timeline
History: Read the full history
The valley has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years: first by the Olamentko of the Coast Miwok village of Kennekono, then by the settlers who followed Captain Stephen Smith's 1844 land grant.
Points of Interest
Attractions: See all the attractions
The historic core is a single walkable loop. The Carpenter Gothic church (1859), the Italianate Potter Schoolhouse (1873), and the Bodega Country Store all sit within it. The Greek Revival Watson School (1856) is a separate stop about two miles east.
Local Flavors
Eat & Drink: Where to eat and drink
The social heart of the village is the Casino Bar & Grill, family-owned since 1949 and still run by the Casini family. A short drive brings Wild Flour Bread in Freestone and the waterfront kitchens of Bodega Bay.
Cultural Impact
Culture: Read about the culture
Bodega holds a Coast Miwok lineage older than California and a film history younger than the Kennedy administration. Three styles of 19th-century architecture stand within a short walk.
Plan Your Visit
Visit: Plan your visit
About 65 miles north of San Francisco, roughly a 1.5-hour drive: US-101 to Petaluma, then west on Bodega Avenue and Highway 1. Allow two to three hours for the historic loop.
A living timeline
The village
in ten dates.
Kennekono
Coast Miwok homeland, continuously inhabited for thousands of years.
1844
Captain Stephen Smith's land grant opens American settlement.
1852
James Watson opens the first general store.
1856
The Greek Revival Watson School is built, two miles east.
1858
The post office officially names the community Bodega.
1859
St. Teresa of Avila Church goes up on its rise, built of redwood.
1873
The Italianate Potter Schoolhouse is built.
1949
The Casini family takes over the Casino, still family run today.
1962
Hitchcock films the schoolyard and church scenes for 'The Birds.'
2020
The Census counts 211 residents in a working village.
Frequently asked
Answers before
you drive up.
Read all 16 answersWhat's the difference between Bodega and Bodega Bay?
They are two distinct communities about five miles apart in Sonoma County. Bodega is a small inland village in the rolling hills; Bodega Bay is the coastal town to the west. Confusingly, much of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" (set in fictional Bodega Bay) was actually filmed in the inland village of Bodega.
How long does it take to visit Bodega?
The historic core of the village is small and walkable. Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours exploring the main attractions: the Potter Schoolhouse, St. Teresa of Avila Church, the Casino Bar & Grill, the Bodega Country Store, and the Artisans' Co-op. A full day works well if you pair the village with Bodega Bay or the wider Sonoma Coast.
Can I visit the Potter Schoolhouse?
The Potter Schoolhouse is a private residence and is not open to the public. Visitors are welcome to view and photograph it from the road, but trespassing is not permitted. Built in 1873 and recognized today as a Sonoma County historic landmark, it was the location of the famous playground attack scene in "The Birds."
How do I get to Bodega from San Francisco?
Bodega is roughly 65 miles north of San Francisco, about a 1.5-hour drive. The most direct route is US-101 north to Petaluma, then west via Bodega Avenue and Highway 1 south to Bodega Highway. Public transit is limited, so a rental car is recommended.
Get in touch
Send us
a note.
Questions about visiting, corrections to anything on this site, or notes from someone with a longer memory of the village than ours: all welcome.
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