Kindergarten Cop: Filming Locations in Astoria, Oregon

Kindergarten Cop begins in Los Angeles, where drug lord Cullen Crisp murders a man who knew where his ex-wife and young son were hiding. The film's opening scene was shot at the Westfield MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana, California, not in Los Angeles itself, and parts were also filmed at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. The scene sets up everything that follows: LAPD detective John Kimble, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, has chased Crisp for years and soon heads north to Oregon to find the missing family. Today MainPlace Mall is an enclosed shopping mall on the north edge of Santa Ana.

Visitor guidance: Enclosed shopping mall on the north edge of Santa Ana.

Kimble and his partner Phoebe O'Hara are sent to Astoria, Oregon, to track down Crisp's ex-wife. The film used the real town as its small-town Oregon: Commercial Street in downtown Astoria was one of the locations, and principal photography ran from 31 May to 31 August 1990. Astoria has hosted many productions, and Kindergarten Cop is on the list alongside Short Circuit and The Black Stallion. Walk Commercial Street for the old downtown look of the film, though the sources do not say which scenes were shot where along it.

Location precision: Sources name Commercial Street as a location but not the exact block or scene; the pin marks the street.

Visitor guidance: Commercial Street is the main downtown street of Astoria.

This is the school where Kimble becomes a kindergarten teacher, a job he is forced into when O'Hara falls ill and which he has no experience for. His pet ferret becomes the class mascot, and he slowly wins the children over. The climax comes here too, when Crisp starts a fire in the library to snatch Dominic. Exterior scenes were filmed at John Jacob Astor Elementary School; Universal hired local artists to paint murals and gave it new playground equipment, and many pupils and staff were extras. Interior scenes were shot at Universal Studios in Hollywood.

Visitor guidance: A school: look from the street only and respect school hours.

The school picnic was filmed at Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach, about 25 miles (40 km) south of Astoria. In the story Kimble gradually bonds with the children, earning their trust and affection, and the picnic belongs to this softer side of the film. The park lies about 3 miles north of Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast. It also appears in The Goonies, much of which was filmed within the park.

Visitor guidance: State park on the Oregon Coast, about 3 miles north of Cannon Beach.

Kimble grows close to teacher Joyce and her son Dominic, then infers from what he has seen that Joyce is Rachel and Dominic is Cullen Jr. He confronts Rachel and reveals his identity, promising protection if she cooperates. Scenes at Joyce and Dominic's house were filmed at a private residence on Exchange Street in Astoria. It is somebody's home, so please look only from the public street, if at all.

Location precision: The house is a private residence on Exchange Street; the pin marks the street, not the house.