Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Cinematic Shortcut
These seventy-five stone steps in Georgetown might look like a simple pedestrian shortcut between Prospect Street and Canal Road, but they're famous for a much darker reason. Buil…
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These seventy-five stone steps in Georgetown might look like a simple pedestrian shortcut between Prospect Street and Canal Road, but they're famous for a much darker reason. Built in 1895 during the city's cable-car era, they became an icon of horror when they were featured in the 1973 film, The Exorcist. During filming in 1972, the steps were actually padded with foam to protect the stunt performer.
Today, they're an official D.C. tourist site, complete with a commemorative plaque unveiled by Mayor Muriel Bowser. It's a strange bit of pop culture history carved right into the hillside of one of the city's oldest neighborhoods.
Updated June 2026