The Exorcist Steps
The steep stone steps from 'The Exorcist' are real—and the film was based on a real possession case. The stairs remain a destination for the brave and curious.
The steep stone staircase in Georgetown, immortalized in “The Exorcist,” is more than a film location—it connects to a genuine case of alleged demonic possession that inspired William Peter Blatty’s novel and the film that terrified generations.
The Real Case
According to historical accounts, the true story involved a boy known as “Roland Doe” (pseudonym) in 1949. A 14-year-old boy in Maryland and St. Louis experienced strange phenomena after playing with a Ouija board with his aunt. Objects moved, furniture shook, and scratches appeared on his body. Words appeared carved into his flesh. Multiple exorcisms were performed by Catholic priests.
William Peter Blatty, then a student at Georgetown University, heard about the case and later wrote his novel based on it.
The Exorcist Steps
The steps connect Prospect Street NW with M Street, dropping 75 feet via 97 steep stone stairs. In the film’s climax, Father Karras throws himself from the bedroom window and dies falling down these stairs.
The steps existed long before the film. They were built in the mid-1800s and originally served as a pathway for canal workers. They became part of Georgetown’s atmospheric landscape before the film cemented their dark reputation.
Reported Activity
Visitors to the steps report various phenomena. At the base, people experience cold spots even on warm nights, feelings of dread and unease, the sensation of being watched, and some claim to hear whispered prayers.
On the steps themselves, climbers report difficulty beyond the physical effort, a feeling of resistance or heaviness, shadows moving at the periphery, and the sense of a presence following them.
At the top, the house used in filming stands nearby. Some visitors photograph unexplained lights, and equipment malfunctions are common.
The Georgetown Connection
Georgetown itself has paranormal significance. It’s one of the oldest neighborhoods in D.C. with multiple haunted locations nearby, historic cemeteries and churches, and a history of tragedy and death.
The combination of the real exorcism case, the film’s cultural impact, and Georgetown’s inherent eeriness makes the steps a paranormal pilgrimage site.
Film Legacy
The 1973 film “The Exorcist” is considered one of the scariest movies ever made. There were reports of audiences fainting and fleeing theaters, claims of the production being “cursed,” multiple deaths connected to cast and crew, and lasting cultural impact on the horror genre.
The steps became such an attraction that they were given an official designation as a D.C. landmark, partly due to their film connection.
Visiting Today
The Exorcist Steps are public and can be visited anytime. They’re located at 36th Street NW, between Prospect and M Streets. A plaque acknowledges the film connection. Visitors often climb at night for atmosphere, though the adjacent house is private property.
Whether the steps themselves are haunted, or whether visitors bring their own fears to this famous location, they remain one of America’s most recognizable horror landmarks.
Sources
Ninety-seven stone steps drop through Georgetown. At the top, a window where a fictional priest threw himself out. At the bottom, real stairs where real people climb and feel real fear. The Exorcist Steps wait, steep and dark, connecting the terror on screen to something deeper in our collective nightmares.