Georgetown is a popular destination for Washington, DC visitors. Between the picturesque row houses, the high-end shopping and the restaurants, there’s a lot to see and do. Don’t just stick to the main drag. Check out some of these off-the-beaten-path hidden gems of Georgetown.

Tudor Place

Tudor Place is the home of George and Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Martha Custis. This is the perfect place for any George Washington history buff to come and explore. When George and Martha passed away, they bequeathed their estate to their granddaughter. So, Custis used this money to build a home in 1805. The last descendant of Custis left the house in 1983. Now, the house is a museum where you can learn all about George Washington and see the gorgeous gardens. Above all, it is one of the less crowded attractions in Georgetown. It also has one of the biggest collections of George Washington memorabilia outside of Mount Vernon. Tudor Place is in North Georgetown off of 33rd street. Tickets are $10 each.

Old Aqueduct Bridge

Of all the hidden gems of Georgetown, this one might be the hardest to find because it doesn’t exist any more. This bridge was built to connect two canals on either side of the Potomac River. In the 1930s, the city demolished the bridge and by the 1960s they removed almost all of what remained. However, there is one piece still sticking out of the water if you know what to look for. There is also a huge swath of graffiti that is really cool to look at while you are out kayaking on the Potomac.

Exorcist Steps

These stairs are from the famous 1973 movie, The Exorcist. The film was based on a book by a student at Georgetown University: William Peter Blatty. The author actually witnessed a exorcism in the 1940s while attending Georgetown. In the movie, the priest falls to his death down these stairs after performing it.

Cady’s Alley

In the 1800s, Cady’s Alley was built as shops and stores. Over a hundred years later, in 2004, architects renovated the alley. So, they converted the buildings into trendy shops. Today, it is known as one of the most fashionable back streets in DC.

Pomander Walk

This quaint street is an extremely popular Instagram spot. It was originally the site of 10 homes built by freedmen. These modest homes were only 600 square feet and back then they were not connected to electricity or running water. Each home would house 2-4 families and the living was unfortunately not very comfortable. There was an act passed to resettle these communities and most were torn down. Eventually, the remaining homes were renovated.

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