![The Capitol in Washington, DC. [Image Pixabay]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/3/5/660x290/b_502x220x82/the-capitol-in-washington-dc-image-pixabay_2219577.jpg "The Capitol in Washington, DC. [Image Pixabay]")
Washington, DC, is known for its iconic buildings and neoclassic monuments, including the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court and other attractions. It is also known for its performing arts venues, including the Kennedy Centre and its several museums.
However, the country's capital has many hidden and unusual places to visit on a tour of Washington, DC.
The Exorcist Stairs - Between Prospect Street NW and Canal Road, Washington, DC, USA
Close to an ExxonMobil petrol station in Georgetown, there is a very long and extremely steep staircase between a brick warehouse and a stone wall. While the stairs themselves are daunting, they have an interesting film history. They featured in the 1973 horror film “The Exorcist,” and were used for the final showdown between the demon who possessed young Regan and the self-sacrificing priest.
National Bonsai Museum - Meadow Rd NE, Washington, DC, USA
This living museum contains 150 miniature trees, lovingly cared for by bonsai experts. In 1976, the people of Japan donated 53 bonsai trees as a commemoration of the US bicentennial. However, the undeniable star of the show is the tree pictured here. It is a Japanese white pine which has been in existence since 1625 and remarkably survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945.
The Dupont Underground - 1527-1583 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC, USA
Washington had a network of streetcars for almost 100 years. The Dupont Circle Station opened in 1949 and was the only station built underground. The station ran until 1962 when the Metro train system came into operation. It was used temporarily as a fallout shelter during the Cold War, but the tunnels were sealed off in 1975. However, they were reopened and the 75,000 sq ft station is now an artists’ haven, with light and sound art installations.
Blind Whino - 700 Delaware Avenue SW, Washington, DC, USA
This abandoned church belonged to the Friendship Baptist Congregation for nearly 100 years. Built by former slaves in 1886, it is one of the oldest buildings in the Southwest. However, when developers bulldozed the area for public housing projects and freeways, the church became abandoned. It is now the heart of the community again after it was bought by a developer, who was not allowed to pull it down. It now has a colourful mural around it and is home to a gallery of rotating art exhibits.
Washington Mini Monument - 2 15th St NW, Washington, DC, USA
Close to the real Washington Monument, there is a 12-foot-tall replica of the same monument, hidden under a manhole cover. The monument is officially called “Bench Mark A,” and is a Geodetic Control Point for the use of surveyors. It forms part of a network of control points across the USA which allows the National Geodetic Survey to synchronise all the government’s maps.
