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Mapping the Filming Locations of The Exorcist

By Valerie Paschall
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By Valerie Paschall

Clearly, this one had to be saved for Halloween. This 1973 film set in Georgetown still gives audiences the heebie jeebies since director William Friedkin does a masterful job of using elements like silence, music and the unseen to further accentuate the scary moments that the audience actually can see. He also does a great job of making Georgetown seem a whole lot creepier. Between the university's gothic architecture and the long stairway going down to M Street, The Exorcist showcases the most frightening aspects of D.C. It also taught a generation of movie watchers to stay the hell away from Ouija Boards and anyone who referred to themselves as "Captain Howdy."


·The Exorcist Film Locations [Film Locations]
· The Exorcist (1973) Filming Locations [IMDB]

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The Exorcist Steps

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These stairs leading down to M Street is the site of one of the more gruesome film deaths up to that point. Even 40 years later, a death from falling down those stairs looks downright terrifying. Photo by

Prospect Street Northwest & 36th Street Northwest, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 789-7000
(202) 789-7000

MacNeil Residence

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The home where Regan (Linda Blair) and Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) lived during Chris' film shoot at Georgetown University. Basically, where all the action happens. Photo by Lenka Reznicek.

3600 Prospect Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20007

Georgetown University

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Chris MacNeil (who is based on Shirley MacLaine in the original book) is shooting a movie about a student protest. It's only alluded to briefly, but the Gothic architecture of the University makes for a bleak establishing backdrop. Photo by Flickr user ehpien.

37th St NW, Washington, DC 20007

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Francis Scott Key Bridge

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The view of (or from) the Key Bridge on a clear day or night is very impressive indeed. Seeing the bridge over water on a cloudy day is actually pretty dreary. Photo by Scott Ableman.

Key Bridge, Washington, DC 20016

Also featured in:

The Tombs

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This bar across the street from the MacNeil house is built in a Federal-style townhouse. It was built by a Georgetown alum and is still quite active today. Photo by Lenka Reznicek.

1226 36th St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-6668
(202) 337-6668

Dahlgren Chapel (Catholic). Georgetown University

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The chapel on Georgetown's campus where Father Karras (Jason Miller) resides as the psychiatrist in residence. It's desecrated rather early in the film. Photo by Lenka Reznicek.

Georgetown University, Washington D. C., DC 20007
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The Exorcist Steps

Prospect Street Northwest & 36th Street Northwest, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007

These stairs leading down to M Street is the site of one of the more gruesome film deaths up to that point. Even 40 years later, a death from falling down those stairs looks downright terrifying. Photo by

Prospect Street Northwest & 36th Street Northwest, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 789-7000
(202) 789-7000

MacNeil Residence

3600 Prospect Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20007

The home where Regan (Linda Blair) and Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) lived during Chris' film shoot at Georgetown University. Basically, where all the action happens. Photo by Lenka Reznicek.

3600 Prospect Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20007

Georgetown University

37th St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Chris MacNeil (who is based on Shirley MacLaine in the original book) is shooting a movie about a student protest. It's only alluded to briefly, but the Gothic architecture of the University makes for a bleak establishing backdrop. Photo by Flickr user ehpien.

37th St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Francis Scott Key Bridge

Key Bridge, Washington, DC 20016

The view of (or from) the Key Bridge on a clear day or night is very impressive indeed. Seeing the bridge over water on a cloudy day is actually pretty dreary. Photo by Scott Ableman.

Key Bridge, Washington, DC 20016

The Tombs

1226 36th St NW, Washington, DC 20007

This bar across the street from the MacNeil house is built in a Federal-style townhouse. It was built by a Georgetown alum and is still quite active today. Photo by Lenka Reznicek.

1226 36th St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-6668
(202) 337-6668

Dahlgren Chapel (Catholic). Georgetown University

Georgetown University, Washington D. C., DC 20007

The chapel on Georgetown's campus where Father Karras (Jason Miller) resides as the psychiatrist in residence. It's desecrated rather early in the film. Photo by Lenka Reznicek.

Georgetown University, Washington D. C., DC 20007