Production designers Cary White and Lisa Ward reveal how 1923 transports viewers to the world of the Duttons with meticulous sets, painstaking research, and a hands-on approach that clearly paid off on screen.
The scale and scope of 1923 are vast. White and Ward spoke about how the team virtually traveled across a mosaic of places—Montana, Texas, Oklahoma, New York, Illinois and even England—to recreate the feel of the 1920s in the Yellowstone universe. Rather than traveling back in time, the crew relied on careful study of historical photography from the Old West and period-specific references to distinguish each locale. “You look at pictures and go, ‘Okay, this is what we need to do,’” White explained, noting that the research guided the look and texture of every location.
The Dutton Ranch remains one of the standout triumphs of the show’s production design. The lodge, dating back to 1917, is built with a heavy emphasis on log construction that evokes the era’s monumental Western architecture. Ward and White described the challenge of not only creating a convincing exterior but also building an interior that could sustain a grand, shared living space on screen. “They’re amazing things to have a part of,” White said of the ranch sets, which serve as a dramatic backdrop for key moments, including a major finale gunfight.
Ward added that the Grand Central set—where Alexandria Dutton’s arc unfolds—may be one of the duo’s proudest achievements. The team recreated the space with extraordinary attention to detail, including materials and finishes down to Mississippian pink marble on the floor, bringing a level of realism that resonates on camera. The interior and exterior sets for the Grand Central sequence were treated as two separate builds in different locations, underscoring the scale and complexity involved.
While the Dutton Ranch drew much of the affection from the crew, Ward singled out the Galveston sequences as a personal favorite. Filming there allowed the team to work in a setting close to Ward’s own life—she even slept in Galveston during production—adding a personal connection to the work and helping shape the look of those coastal scenes.
The collaboration with Taylor Sheridan remains a constant thread. White recalled Sheridan’s personal charm and formidable storytelling talent, noting that every scene he writes invites a fresh, challenging approach from the design team. Ward echoed the sentiment, highlighting Sheridan’s vision and the ongoing dialogue between creator, directors, and designers to bring his expansive epic to life.
The on-set atmosphere is amplified by the presence of a legendary cast. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren are described as generous, energetic, and deeply invested in their characters. Ward said they bring humor, intelligence, and mastery to the process, helping push the production to new heights. For Ward, meeting such icons was a form of bragging rights she cherished, given how long she had admired them.
The payoff for all this effort was clear in the audience response. Paramount Global reported that the 1923 series finale drew 14 million viewers worldwide, marking it as the most-watched episode not only of 1923 but of the broader Yellowstone universe to date. The finale’s reception reflects the power of immersive production design and the world-building that White and Ward helped craft, a collaboration that blends historical accuracy with Sheridan’s distinct storytelling voice.
Viewers can currently stream the series on Paramount+, continuing to enjoy the carefully designed environments that bring the Dutton saga to life—from the lodge at the heart of the family’s legacy to stylish interiors that mirror the era’s grandeur.
Additional note: The designers emphasize that the success of 1923 rests on a collaborative, detail-driven approach that marries historic research with imaginative construction. The result is a timeless sense of place that fans can get lost in, month after month.
Summary: The production teams behind 1923 leaned into rigorous historical research, expansive set-building, and close collaboration with Taylor Sheridan to recreate a vivid 1920s West. The result is a richly textured world that attracted a global audience and delivered a finale that underscored the series’ visual ambition and emotional stakes. A hopeful takeaway is the enduring appeal of meticulously crafted environments that invite viewers to live inside the story.