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Points of Interest in Bodega

Five sites anchor Bodega's historic core, all within a short walk of the village center. Three have direct connections to Alfred Hitchcock's “The Birds” (1963).

Points of Interest

Five places,
all walkable.

The historic core of Bodega is a single small loop. Three of the buildings below have direct connections to Hitchcock's “The Birds.” All are visible from the road; please respect private property.

The two-story Italianate Potter Schoolhouse in Bodega, California — a white wooden building with green trim and bell tower, used in Hitchcock's 1962 filming of The Birds.
Potter Schoolhouse, Bodega — built 1873 on land donated by Sheriff Samuel Potter, used by Hitchcock for the 1962 schoolyard scene in 'The Birds.' Now a private residence. Photo: Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 3.0.

  • Film History

    Potter Schoolhouse

    Built 1873

    The two-story Italianate building Hitchcock used for the schoolyard attack in "The Birds." Sheriff Samuel Potter donated the land in 1872; classes ran here until 1961. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today a private residence at 17110 Bodega Lane — visible from the road, no trespassing.

  • Carpenter Gothic, 1859

    St. Teresa of Avila Church

    Dedicated 1861

    Built of redwood in 1859 by New England ship's carpenters on land donated by Jasper O'Farrell. Dedicated June 2, 1861 by Archbishop Alemany. The oldest church in continuous use in Sonoma County, California Historical Landmark No. 820, and famously photographed by Ansel Adams in 1953.

  • Educational Heritage

    Watson School

    1856

    A Greek Revival one-room schoolhouse on land donated by James Watson in 1856. It operated continuously until 1967 — 111 years, the longest run of any one-room school in California. Now part of Watson School Historic Park (Sonoma County Regional Parks); exterior viewing only.

  • Community Market

    Bodega Country Store

    Since the 1850s

    A general store at the heart of village life since the early Bodega Corners period. It appeared in "The Birds" as itself. The store reopened under new ownership in 2018, with a focus on local provisions, snacks, and an informal visitor-information role.

  • Arts & Culture

    Artisans' Co-op

    A cooperative gallery showcasing the work of local artists — paintings, sculpture, jewelry, textiles — and a working extension of Bodega's longstanding arts community.

Photography & Visiting Notes

  • Potter Schoolhouse is a private residence. Photos from the road are welcome — trespassing is not. Morning light hits the front facade well; coastal fog creates the most atmospheric shots.
  • St. Teresa of Avila Church is an active parish with regular services. Visitors are welcome inside for quiet contemplation outside service hours; the surrounding cemetery has graves dating to the 1850s.
  • Watson School is also a private residence today — viewable from the road, not open to the public.
  • Drone use is restricted in parts of the village; check current regulations before flying.
  • Pet visitors are welcome on village streets and trails on leash. Service animals are permitted everywhere.