According to local legend, film director Frank Capra once came into Seneca Falls and was enchanted by the place. So, when he was coming up with the story for "It's a Wonderful Life," he turned Seneca Falls into the fictional Bedford Falls.
Remember the drafty old house that Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed moved into? This is supposedly the model for it. It's right on Route 20, a little east and north of the main business district. Yes, I know it's the back, but it was tough to take a picture of the front from a busy street. You get the idea; there does seem to be a resemblance.
Seneca Falls has a festival every December honoring the film. It's quite a party - characters like George Bailey are assigned to roam the streets, and Zuzu herself even shows up to sign autographs. And there is a museum in the middle of the town, full of items pertaining to the movie.
A visit is a great idea, particularly if you don't miss the movie when it is shown a few dozen times around the holidays.
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