Exorcist Steps, Washington D.C.
The Exorcist steps, a set of concrete stairs in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., have gained fame for their role in the iconic 1973 horror film, "The Exorcist." These steps, located at the corner of Prospect Street and 36th Street NW, descend sharply to a small parking lot near the intersection of M Street NW, Canal Road NW, and Whitehurst Freeway NW. Built in 1895 by George Killeen, a notable local Democratic figure, the steps were originally constructed during the building of the adjacent Capital Traction Company Barn for cable cars, serving both as a lightwell and a public right of way. According to family legend, the construction of the wall adjacent to the steps was based on a handshake agreement, and Killeen was never compensated for its completion.
Before their association with "The Exorcist," the steps were informally known as the "Hitchcock steps," a nod to Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense and horror films. However, it was "The Exorcist" that truly cemented their place in popular culture. For the movie, the steps were padded with half-inch-thick rubber to safely film the dramatic fall of the character Father Damien Karras. Due to the house from which Karras falls being set back slightly from the stairs, the film crew constructed an eastward extension with a false front to achieve the desired effect for the scene.
In a ceremonial Halloween weekend in 2015, the steps were officially recognized as a D.C. landmark and tourist attraction. This event featured the film's director William Friedkin and screenwriter William Peter Blatty, who also authored the book on which the film is based. Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled a plaque at the base of the steps, acknowledging their significance to Washington, D.C., and their impact on film history. This recognition underscores the steps' enduring legacy and their unique place in both cinematic and local history.
Today, the Exorcist steps attract numerous visitors, fans of the film, and curious tourists alike, who come to see the famous site and experience a piece of horror movie history.
Before their association with "The Exorcist," the steps were informally known as the "Hitchcock steps," a nod to Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense and horror films. However, it was "The Exorcist" that truly cemented their place in popular culture. For the movie, the steps were padded with half-inch-thick rubber to safely film the dramatic fall of the character Father Damien Karras. Due to the house from which Karras falls being set back slightly from the stairs, the film crew constructed an eastward extension with a false front to achieve the desired effect for the scene.
In a ceremonial Halloween weekend in 2015, the steps were officially recognized as a D.C. landmark and tourist attraction. This event featured the film's director William Friedkin and screenwriter William Peter Blatty, who also authored the book on which the film is based. Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled a plaque at the base of the steps, acknowledging their significance to Washington, D.C., and their impact on film history. This recognition underscores the steps' enduring legacy and their unique place in both cinematic and local history.
Today, the Exorcist steps attract numerous visitors, fans of the film, and curious tourists alike, who come to see the famous site and experience a piece of horror movie history.
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Exorcist Steps on Map
Sight Name: Exorcist Steps
Sight Location: Washington D.C., USA (See walking tours in Washington D.C.)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Washington D.C., USA (See walking tours in Washington D.C.)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Washington D.C., USA
Create Your Own Walk in Washington D.C.
Creating your own self-guided walk in Washington D.C. is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
DC Monuments and Memorials Walking Tour
"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years," goes the famous quote by Abraham Lincoln.
Indeed, those remembered in Washington, D.C. 鈥� the renowned statesmen, politicians, fallen soldiers, and other distinguished persons 鈥� had their years filled with life to the brim. What they left behind is a great legacy manifested in historic... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Indeed, those remembered in Washington, D.C. 鈥� the renowned statesmen, politicians, fallen soldiers, and other distinguished persons 鈥� had their years filled with life to the brim. What they left behind is a great legacy manifested in historic... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Georgetown Walking Tour
Georgetown is a historic neighborhood situated in the northwest quadrant of Washington, DC. Despite its proximity to downtown, this former port area has preserved much of its distinct character. In Georgetown, "old-world charm meets modern allure," they say. Those poetically inclined tend to compare it to "a tapestry of cobblestone dreams and timeless grace."
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Washington D.C. Introduction Walking Tour
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia or simply The District, is the capital of the United States and, in many senses, America鈥檚 front yard. After the American Revolution, the need for the newly independent nation's federal government to have authority over a capital city and not rely on any state for its maintenance and safety, came in the wake of the Pennsylvania Mutiny of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
Arlington National Cemetery Tour
"The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example," a distinguished politician of the 19th century said once.
The historic military necropolis 鈥� the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia 鈥� is the final resting place for many of America's heroes, whose willingness to sacrifice for their country has earned them the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
The historic military necropolis 鈥� the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia 鈥� is the final resting place for many of America's heroes, whose willingness to sacrifice for their country has earned them the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Georgetown University Walking Tour
Georgetown University, established in 1789, is America's oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution. Spanning four campuses in Washington, DC, its main undergraduate campus in Georgetown features fifty-four buildings across 104 acres.
With its Gothic and Georgian architecture, serene green spaces, and Jesuit traditions, the university promotes academic excellence and global engagement. For... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
With its Gothic and Georgian architecture, serene green spaces, and Jesuit traditions, the university promotes academic excellence and global engagement. For... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Federal Buildings Walking Tour
The capital of the United States is home to several notable federal buildings that hold significant historical, architectural, and governmental value.
Among the stately 鈥渆mblems of authority鈥� in Washington D.C. perhaps the most prominent is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States 鈥� The White House. This resplendent mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
Among the stately 鈥渆mblems of authority鈥� in Washington D.C. perhaps the most prominent is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States 鈥� The White House. This resplendent mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
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