Where was 1923 filmed? Explore the Montana ranch, African wilderness, Malta, Texas and other striking locations that brought the Yellowstone prequel to life.
If the Dutton family ever needed a passport, 1923: A Yellowstone Origin Story would be the reason.
Created by Taylor Sheridan as a prequel to Yellowstone and sequel to 1883, the Paramount+ western drama follows another generation of the Dutton family during one of the most turbulent periods in American history.
Set amid Prohibition, drought, economic upheaval and the looming Great Depression, the series follows Jacob Dutton and his wife Cara as they fight to protect their Montana ranch.
Meanwhile, their nephew Spencer Dutton is thousands of miles away, working as a big game hunter in Africa before beginning a perilous journey home. Teonna Rainwater faces an entirely different battle as she attempts to escape an abusive government-run boarding school.
Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren, Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Amina Nieves and Timothy Dalton lead the cast. And while the Duttons remain firmly rooted in Montana, the cameras certainly did not.
Table of Contents
🤠 1923 Filming Locations
Behind the scenes of 1923 filming, the cast and crew faced illness, extreme weather, practical weapons, and demanding location shoots as the production traveled across continents to make the early twentieth century feel remarkably tangible.
Taylor Sheridan’s preference for shooting in real locations meant that 1923 filming stretched from Montana to Africa, Malta, California, and Texas.
🏔️ Montana – Dutton Country
Montana is the heart of 1923, and production used real communities to make the Dutton world feel lived in. Darby provides the historic Chief Joseph Ranch, the real home of the fictional Dutton Ranch also seen in Yellowstone.
Butte’s preserved architecture becomes downtown Bozeman, while Pony and Anaconda supply rural landscapes, mountain views, and boarding school exteriors. Bannack contributes rugged frontier scenery, including bitterly cold filming conditions.
In Hamilton, the grand Daly Mansion (Riverside) becomes an elite estate. Together, these locations capture the ranching, economic, and social tensions shaping the Dutton family’s increasingly difficult world.
Book a tour:
- Anaconda: Montana Zipline Adventure
- Bozeman: Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Park
- Bozeman: Yellowstone Wolves & Winter 4D/3N Adventure
Where was 1923 filmed in Montana?
- Chief Joseph Ranch, Darby, Montana: The Dutton Ranch.
- Butte, Montana: Historic streets became downtown Bozeman.
- Pony, Montana: Rural landscapes and school exteriors.
- Anaconda, Montana: Mountain and countryside environments.
- Bannack, Montana: Rugged cold weather frontier sequences.
- Daly Mansion (Riverside), Hamilton, Montana: The elite estate.
🦁 Africa – Spencer’s Dangerous Journey
Africa gives Spencer Dutton’s storyline its enormous sense of scale. Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park provides wildlife vistas and hunting camp sequences, placing Spencer’s work as a big game hunter in an authentic environment.
South Africa supplies additional landscapes, historic architecture, and railway imagery, including Kearsney Manor in KwaZulu Natal as Nairobi’s Stanley Hotel and the Umgeni Steam Railway for vintage train scenes.
Kenya and Zanzibar contribute coastal arrivals, port settings, and regional atmosphere. The locations make Spencer’s journey feel international rather than conveniently close to Montana. They also came with hardships, including illness, dust, ticks, heat, and wildlife.
Book a tour:
- Serengeti National Park Tours
- South Africa Safaris & Tours
- Kenya Safaris & Tours
- Zanzibar Safaris & Tours
Where was 1923 filmed in Africa?
- Kearsney Manor, KwaZulu Natal: Stanley Hotel.
- Serengeti, Tanzania: Wildlife and hunting camps.
- South Africa: “Nairobi” and vintage railway sequences.
- Umgeni Steam Railway: Spencer’s period train scenes.
- Kenya: Coastal arrivals and port sequences.
- Zanzibar: Coastal travel and regional atmosphere.
🏛️ Malta – Sicily in Disguise
Malta stands in for Sicily during Spencer and Alexandra’s Mediterranean journey, giving 1923 a different backdrop. The island’s fortified architecture, stone streets, and maritime character provide a convincing old world setting.
The production used Valletta and its historic waterfront, including the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour, for arrival and travel sequences. Malta Film Studios also supported the shoot.
Malta was useful for the series because the story moves through an era when long distance travel itself was an adventure. In 1923, even getting from one chapter of the story to another requires mileage.
Book a tour:
- Malta: Marsamxett Harbour & Grand Harbour Cruise by Night
- Malta: The Original Valletta Walking Tour
- Mdina Film Tour Including Game of Thrones Locations
Where was 1923 filmed in Malta?
- Valletta, Malta: “Sicily’s” historic streets and architecture.
- Grand Harbour, Malta: Mediterranean arrival sequences.
- Marsamxett Harbour, Malta: Maritime filming and backgrounds.
- Malta Film Studios: Controlled production and studio work.
🚢 Long Beach – The RMS Majestic
Long Beach, California, supplied the historic RMS Queen Mary. The Art Deco ocean liner stood in for the fictional RMS Majestic during Spencer and Alexandra’s sea journey.
Production filmed a large ballroom sequence aboard the ship, along with conversations and a fight scene, allowing the preserved interiors to provide authentic period detail. Behind the scenes, the shoot had challenges, including difficult wireless conditions in the busy Port of Long Beach.
The location therefore delivered what 1923 needed – a convincing historic liner, period interiors, and technical headaches that made the shoot memorable for everyone involved on that historic ship itself too.
Where was 1923 filmed in California?
- RMS Queen Mary: Fictional RMS Majestic sequences.
- Queen Mary Ballroom: Large period party sequence.
- Queen Mary Ship interiors: Conversations and fight scenes.
- Port of Long Beach: Exterior maritime atmosphere.
🌵 Texas – Season 2’s New Frontier
Texas became important to 1923 Season 2 after production shifted its base from the original Montana plan. Austin hosted principal production at ATX Film Studios, while nearby communities supplied period locations.
San Antonio used its historic downtown, with streets temporarily closed for filming. Galveston contributed Gulf Coast settings, while Lockhart supplied historic streets and buildings. Bartlett and other Texas locations also appeared, with some standing in for Fort Worth and Amarillo.
Where was 1923 filmed in Texas?
- Austin, Texas: Main Season 2 production base.
- San Antonio, Texas: Historic downtown period scenes.
- Galveston, Texas: Gulf Coast and travel sequences.
- Lockhart, Texas: Period streets and buildings.
- Bartlett, Texas: Texas locations dressed as period towns.
🤠 1923 Series FAQs
The Yellowstone prequel has generated almost as many location questions as Dutton family disputes.
What is 1923 about?
1923 follows Jacob and Cara Dutton as they defend their Montana ranch while Spencer Dutton travels through Africa and Teonna Rainwater fights to escape institutional abuse.
Where was 1923 Season 1 filmed?
Season 1 of 1923 was filmed extensively in Montana, with additional filming in Africa, Malta, and California. The first season also used the Butte Civic Center for production work.
Where was 1923 Season 2 filmed?
Season 2 of 1923 was filmed primarily in Texas, particularly around Austin, with additional filming in Montana and other Texas communities.
What comes after 1923 in the Yellowstone timeline?
The main Yellowstone series follows the Dutton story in the modern era, while other projects, in chronological order below, explore different generations and periods.
- 1883: Dutton family’s westward journey begins.
- 1923: Duttons battle hardship and change.
- Yellowstone: John Dutton protects family ranch.
- The Madison: New chapter in Montana’s legacy.
- Marshals: New Dutton-era law enforcement drama.
- Dutton Ranch: Future expansion of the saga.
Where was the 1923 town filmed?
Much of the town material was filmed in Butte, Montana, dressed to represent Bozeman.
Where was the Yellowstone ranch in 1923 filmed?
The Dutton Ranch scenes were filmed at Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana, the same real ranch used for Yellowstone.
How many seasons are there in 1923?
There are two seasons of 1923, with Season 2 serving as the series finale. The second season concluded on April 6, 2025.
How many episodes are in 1923?
There are 15 episodes across the two seasons of 1923, with eight episodes in Season 1 and seven in Season 2.
Is there a 1923 Season 3?
No. Season 2 was the final season, bringing the 1923 story to a close.
Were real World War I weapons used in 1923?
Yes. The World War I flashbacks used an operational Browning M1917 machine gun and period uniforms sourced from Europe to give the scenes greater historical authenticity.
Who are the main actors in 1923?
The 1923 series cast includes:
- Harrison Ford: Jacob Dutton
- Helen Mirren: Cara Dutton
- Brandon Sklenar: Spencer Dutton
- Julia Schlaepfer: Alexandra
- Amina Nieves: Teonna Rainwater
- Timothy Dalton: Donald Whitfield
- Darren Mann: Jack Dutton
- Michelle Randolph: Elizabeth Dutton
- James Badge Dale: John Dutton Sr.
- Marley Shelton: Emma Dutton
- Brian Geraghty: Zane
- Jerome Flynn: Banner Creighton
- Jennifer Ehle: Sister Mary O’Connor
- Sebastian Roché: Father Renaud
What other are some other films like 1923?
These films offer a similar mix of western landscapes, family conflict, survival and historical drama:
- The Revenant (2015): Brutal frontier survival against impossible odds.
- Legends of the Fall (1994): Family loyalties tested across generations.
- Open Range (2003): Cowboys confront violence and corruption.
- There Will Be Blood (2007): Ambition collides with ruthless capitalism.
- The Assassination of Jesse James (2007): Mythmaking meets betrayal and violence.
📺 Where to Watch 1923
Where is 1923 streaming? The Dutton family may have crossed continents, but watching the series is considerably easier. Here’s where to find this Yellowstone prequel.
From the real Dutton ranch in Montana to the Serengeti, Malta, an historic ocean liner and Texas towns dressed for another century, 1923 turned an already sprawling Yellowstone story into a genuinely global filming adventure.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
- Where Was 1923 Filmed? Yellowstone Prequel Locations - August 9, 2026
- Where Was The Madison Filmed? Every Stunning Montana Location - August 8, 2026
- Where Was Yellowstone Filmed? Stunning Western Filming Locations - August 6, 2026
Discover more from Ahoy Matey Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.