"The Shawshank Redemption" is based on a novella named "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" within the collection of 4 novellas called Different Seasons by Stephen King. It is set in the Northeast US, Maine specifically, as many of King's stories are set. The movie itself was filmed mainly in Ohio, most scenes are in Mansfield (where I live and am from) at the old Mansfield Reformatory.

The reformatory opened in 1896 after years of delays and stayed open until 1990 due to poor conditions of inmates. Obviously, most of the movie is shot near or within the reformatory itself.  The city of Mansfield was the site of scenes such as; Brooks' return to society and his death, Brooks' bench, the gun store Red peers into as he considers breaking his parole and many more. Also locally, Ashland provided the Maine National Bank and nearby Malabar Farm is home to the tree and farm Red visits to retrieve the note from Andy.

You can visit the reformatory for tours throughout the year and haunted hunts at certain times. This year will mark the 2nd annual Shawshank Hustle, which starts and finishes at the reformatory. It will be next weekend, compared to July last year (it was so hot). The Hustle is a 7K Run/Walk and passes by many of the scenes from the movie. Visit http://www.mrps.org/ for more information.

Possible movies I might share at a later date that were also partially filmed at the reformatory include Tango & Cash and Air Force One.