This narrow and steep set of stairs made their murderous debut in "The Exorcist" claiming the life of Father Karras when he tumbled down and broke his crown. Even though they look much different than in the movie (Regan's window was only part of a movie set), the stairs are sure to send a chill down your spine especially if you visit during twilight.

It's a simple rectangular townhouse complex, the one on the end being called the "Watermelon House." Apparently, the owners wanted to pain the house red but the color turned out to be more of a pinkish-red. Instead of repainting it the color they desired, they instead added a green curving swatch on the side to represent a rind and black oval splotches for the seeds. Hopefully the neighbors like the watermelon paint job as much as the owners seem to like it!

Completed in 1881, the Summerhouse is a splendid garden ensconced by a hexagonal red-brick structure. The ornate oasis was a place where travelers could take a breather and refresh themselves with water in an era when people walked long distances just to run their weekly errands. Imagined by architect Frederick Olmsted, the garden and surrounding enclosure were designed to keep visitors cool during the muggy DC summers.

This seemingly humble merry-go-round is quite unique - it is the last four-abreast carousel made meaning each row is four deep. Made in 1947 by the Allen Herschel company, the carousel journeyed from New York to the nation's capital in 1967. Owned by the Smithsonian, this revolving calliope music box is evocative of a gentler time.

As long as there have been people and sovereign lands, there have been spies. Certainly the techniques and tools have become considerably more advanced throughout the millennia but the concept remains the same. This old, historic corner building houses hundreds of artifacts on 20,000 square feet of display space - much of it dating back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.

Maintained by the Smithsonian this museum is dedicated to art from all over the continent of Asia spanning 6,000 years. With beautiful architecture, interior design, and gardens, you could spend an entire day here and still not see the entire 26,000-piece collection. You can return day after day though - the admission is free as part of the Smithsonian Institute.

Almost revered for its place in history, Ford's Theatre is where one of the greatest American presidents spent his last conscious hours. As most of us hopefully know, he was shot in the head on April 14, 1865 while sitting in the balcony watching a performance. He died hours later. As the setting for such a pivotal event in American history, the theater regularly operates tours that take visitors step by step through the events of Lincoln's assassination.

These 22 Corinthian columns are uniformly built, evenly spaced, and placed next to a reflecting pool on an open meadow. Their original purpose was to support one of the porticos of the Capitol building. However, when the dome was finally completed in 1866 the columns which had been built decades before proved to be too delicate. Their new purpose proves to be one of DCs most oddly beautiful - an addition to the peaceful National Arboretum which includes the Herb Garden and flowering tree walk.

This simply-named structure is the oldest in DC to remain as it originally was in 1765. It was privately owned and used for a variety of purposes - including as a used-car dealership. The government finally got the inkling that this elegant building should be guarded for posterity and thus purchased it in 1953. It has been open to the public since 1960.

Founded in 1807, this serene memorial park is the final resting place of over 65,000 individuals - many of whom were part of the founding of the nation. Noted for its landscaping and unique grave markers, this cemetery is open to the public for tours. You can choose the self-guided tour or look at the calendar of events for their specialized tours.