Fallout – Bayley Seton Hospital

The Bayley Seton Hospital in Staten Island, New York, served as the primary filming location for Hawthorne Medical Laboratories in the Amazon Prime Video series Fallout. This abandoned medical complex, with its sprawling 20-acre campus of 12 buildings, provided an eerie, post-apocalyptic backdrop perfectly suited to the show’s wasteland aesthetic. Established originally as a U.S. Marine Hospital in 1831, the site evolved over decades, with its main structure built in the 1930s and later renamed by the Sisters of Charity after Elizabeth Ann Seton. By 2019, it had permanently closed as part of Richmond University Medical Center’s Bayley Seton campus, leaving behind decaying infrastructure ideal for cinematic decay. Its coordinates, approximately 40.6376, -74.0765, place it in the Clifton and Stapleton neighborhoods on New York’s North Shore, bounded by Bay Street, Vanderbilt Avenue, and Tompkins Avenue. This location has drawn filmmakers repeatedly due to its authentic sense of abandonment and historical depth.

The Scene

In the fifth episode of Fallout, titled “The Past,” Hawthorne Medical Laboratories emerges as a pivotal, foreboding site where dark secrets of the pre-war world unravel. The episode delves into Vault-Tec’s sinister experiments, with the dilapidated labs hosting tense confrontations and revelations about human testing and corporate malice. Lucy, played by Ella Purnell, navigates the crumbling facility, encountering remnants of failed subjects and holographic logs that expose the company’s ruthless agenda. The interiors, with peeling walls and scattered medical debris, amplify the horror, while exterior shots emphasize isolation amid overgrown ruins. This location also appears briefly in the episode “The Radio,” reinforcing its role in the narrative’s exploration of legacy and survival in a irradiated world.

The Real Filming Location

Bayley Seton Hospital occupies a vast 20-acre site in Staten Island’s Stapleton and Clifton areas, featuring 12 buildings that once formed a comprehensive medical campus. Originally founded in 1831 as a U.S. Marine Hospital, it transitioned to private operation in 1981 under Richmond University Medical Center before shuttering permanently in 2019. The complex includes outpatient clinics, rehab centers, and adjacent facilities like Public School 721 and the New York Foundling Hospital Staten Island. Its architecture blends 1930s construction with later expansions, now marked by urban decay—overgrown lots, shattered windows, and faded signage. Bounded by major avenues, the site offers both imposing exteriors and vast interiors, making it a versatile stand-in for dystopian settings. Prior productions like Gotham (as Arkham Asylum), Hunters, The Adjustment Bureau, and Salt have utilized its atmospheric ruins.

Why This Location Was Chosen

Producers selected Bayley Seton Hospital for its authentic post-industrial decay, mirroring the Hawthorne Medical Laboratories’ ravaged state without extensive set builds. The site’s recent closure in 2019 provided fresh abandonment—empty wards, rusted equipment, and expansive grounds evoking a nuclear aftermath—aligning seamlessly with Fallout‘s retro-futuristic wasteland. Its history as a real hospital added layers of realism to scenes involving medical horrors and Vault-Tec labs, enhancing immersion. Staten Island’s proximity to New York filming hubs like Brooklyn Army Terminal minimized logistics, while the 20-acre scale allowed dynamic shots of exploration and action. Repeated use in shows like Gotham confirms its proven appeal for gritty, institutional apocalypse visuals, blending practicality with visual poetry.

Visiting the Location

Bayley Seton Hospital remains closed to the public as an abandoned property owned by Richmond University Medical Center, with no official tours or access permitted. Located at approximate coordinates 40.6376, -74.0765 near Bay Street in Staten Island, it’s visible from surrounding streets but fenced off to prevent trespassing due to safety hazards like structural instability. Fans can view exteriors from Vanderbilt or Tompkins Avenues, capturing the iconic decay that defined Fallout scenes. Staten Island Ferry offers free access to the borough, with buses along Hylan Boulevard nearby. Nearby attractions include Staten Island’s North Shore attractions, but respect no-entry signs—urban exploration is illegal and risky. Check local redevelopment news, as portions may evolve into new uses.