Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
ER is set in Chicago, at the fictional County General Hospital, but most of every episode was shot in California. The interiors lived on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, while Chicago supplied authenticity through regular location shoots for exteriors. Crews made the trip three to four times per year, except in 2003, using the city's 'L' train platforms extensively for realistic street scenes.
The Studio Side
Warner Bros. Studios Burbank is the production home of ER and one of the most visitable studios in the Los Angeles area. The tour takes guests through working soundstages and backlot streets, including the backlot areas used for the show's ambulance bay and street scenes. Tickets are required, and booking ahead is wise given the tour's popularity.
Tours That Visit These Locations
No dedicated ER tour exists, but the studio where the show was made runs a general tour that passes the exact backlot streets used for County General's exteriors. Both options below cover the same ground in Los Angeles.
Studio Tour With Hospital Facade Stop
Los Angeles: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
This Los Angeles studio tour includes New York Street, where the Cook County General Hospital facade stood, alongside the soundstages and props that carried fifteen seasons of the show.
★ 4.6 out of 5 · 8,721 reviewsLos Angeles
Warner Bros. Backlot Tour
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
A guided studio tour through the Warner Bros. backlot, passing the New York and Chicago streets that doubled for the hospital's exterior world, rated 4.6 from over five thousand reviews.
★ 4.6 out of 5 · 5,668 reviewsLos Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
Was ER actually filmed in Chicago?
Partly. The interiors and the main ER set were filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. However, crews traveled to Chicago three to four times per year for exterior shots, filming in over 150 locations across the city during the show's run.
Can you visit the ER set?
The original Stage 11 set is not preserved as an attraction, but the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Burbank takes visitors through the backlot streets used for the ambulance bay and hospital facade scenes. It is the closest experience to standing inside the show's world.
What hospital was County General based on?
The fictional County General was inspired by Chicago's Cook County Hospital, whose historic building supplied exteriors for the series. The interior set at Warner Bros. was modeled after Los Angeles County General Hospital.
Where was the ER pilot filmed?
The pilot was shot at the abandoned Linda Vista Hospital in Los Angeles because the production lacked the time and money to build a set. The building has since been converted to senior housing and only its exterior can be seen from the street.
Which ER locations in Chicago are free to visit?
Several. The historic Cook County Hospital facade, Navy Pier, and the Chicago Riverwalk are all public and free. Hathaway's house on West Cuyler Avenue is viewable from the street, though it is a private residence. Wrigley Field requires a ticket for tours or games.
How much did ER spend filming in Chicago?
The production filmed in over 150 Chicago locations across its run and injected $33.5 million into the local economy, making it one of the most significant television productions the city hosted during that era.
ER split its world between a Burbank soundstage and the real streets of Chicago, and both halves reward a visit. The studio tour in Los Angeles delivers the backlot where the hospital lived, while Chicago offers a free, walkable trail of exteriors from the Riverwalk to Navy Pier and beyond. Fans with time for both will see the series from the inside and the outside.
