The Exorcist Steps
Georgetown—sample rating
Dmitry K, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About The Exorcist Steps
The Exorcist Steps are a set of 75 steep concrete stairs descending from Prospect Street NW alongside 36th Street to M Street NW in Georgetown. Built in 1895 to serve the adjacent Capital Traction Company car barn, they were long known locally as the "Hitchcock Steps" before earning their current nickname from their appearance in the finale of William Friedkin's 1973 film The Exorcist. In 2015, on the film's Halloween anniversary weekend, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the film's director and screenwriter dedicated a commemorative plaque at the base of the steps, officially recognizing them as a D.C. landmark and film-history tourist attraction. The steps are a public right-of-way, freely accessible at all times, and are a popular photo stop for movie fans, especially around Halloween.
Why visit
A quirky pop-culture pilgrimage site for horror movie fans, with a great view over the Potomac and Key Bridge from the top.
Best time to visit
Visit in daylight for safety on the steep steps; especially popular around Halloween.
Recommended duration
Allow about 0.3 hours (20 minutes).
Opening hours
- Every day
- 00:00-23:59
Publicly accessible outdoor stairway; no set hours.
Information may change — verify details before visiting.
Location
3600 Prospect Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
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Nearby attractions
National Mall
A vast open-air national park stretching between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, lined with iconic monuments and Smithsonian museums.
Washington Monument
A 555-foot marble obelisk honoring George Washington, offering sweeping views of DC from its observation level.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed neoclassical monument on the Tidal Basin honoring Thomas Jefferson, surrounded by famous cherry blossom trees.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
A granite memorial on the Tidal Basin featuring a colossal carved likeness of Dr. King emerging from a 'Stone of Hope.'
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
A sprawling outdoor memorial along the Tidal Basin divided into four outdoor 'rooms' representing FDR's four terms in office.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A stark black granite wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members who died or went missing in the Vietnam War.
Nearby restaurants
Zaytinya
Mediterranean · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Ben's Chili Bowl
American / Comfort Food · $ · U Street
Mi Vida
Mexican · $$ · Navy Yard / Waterfront
Ambar Capitol Hill
Balkan · $$ · Capitol Hill
Centrolina
Italian · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Maketto
Cambodian / Taiwanese · $$ · Capitol Hill
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Stay near Georgetown
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