Still, there is a marker on the bridge noting that it is dedicated in the memory of Washington Irving, which is a nice touch.įrom the bridge, you might notice the historic Philipsburg Manor in the distance (The starting point for tours of Kykuit). While this bridge has some architectural interest, it’s a shame that they haven’t built a replica of the bridge nearby, as that would really add a lot to the area. The view of the Old Dutch Church and the entrance to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery from the bridge. Instead, on this spot, you’ll find a four-lane concrete bridge that carries the busy Route 9 over the waterway. Unfortunately, the historic wood bridge described in the story is long gone. It was said that the Headless Horseman couldn’t cross this bridge, and it is here that the climax of the story takes place. The bridge over the Pocantico River looks very different from how it would have looked when Irving wrote the story.Īnother spot of interest to fans of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is the Albany Post Road bridge over the Pocantico River. Look for signs pointing the way to his gravesite from near the parking area adjacent to the Old Dutch Church. While it seems a bit underwhelming for an author that is still so well known over 150 years after his death, it’s still a worthwhile spot to visit. This grave is simply a small marker within his family’s plot, which you can only view from a few feet away. The grave of Washington Irving in his family’s plot in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. One grave of note, which is located near the front of the church is that of Catriena Ecker Van Tessel, who is said to have been the woman on whom Irving loosely based the character of Katrina.Ī short walk from the church and within the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, you’ll find the grave of Washington Irving. ![]() This definitely seems like a fitting setting for a ghostly horseman to be found. It seems like a step back in time wandering this area and looking at the many graves here, most of which are hundreds of years old. The exterior of the church and its 2.5-acre graveyard are incredibly well-kept and strikingly beautiful. The graveyard features many old graves including that of Catriena Ecker Van Tessel who inspired one of the story’s characters. Unfortunately, it wasn’t open during my visit, but it’s easy enough to peer into the windows to get a view of its beautiful interior. The interior of the church is typically open on weekends in the month of October, as well as on occasion throughout the year. While this church has been renovated many times over the years, its appearance today isn’t much different than it would have been in the early 1800s, aside from the much busier road that now runs in front of it. An early 20th-century postcard featuring the Old Dutch Church. It is located directly along the historic Albany Post Road, which was the first road constructed between New York City and Albany. The Old Dutch Church was built in the 1690s and is the oldest existent church in New York (though some sources say it’s the second oldest without citing an older one). They are located adjacent to, but not technically a part of, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, though you probably won’t realize this distinction while visiting. Many of the important plot points of the story take place near the Old Dutch Church and its graveyard, which both still exist today. The Old Dutch Church was a prominent setting for “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. Wanting to see these historic locations, I decided to visit this charming village in Westchester County on a beautiful day in early October, which is a great time to explore this part of the state (especially when you combine your visit with a nighttime trip to the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze nearby). ![]() In fact, the story is so popular that the community of North Tarrytown officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow in 1996 to embrace its place in the story. While the story is fiction, some of the places mentioned by Irving still exist today. There might be no better-known Halloween story than the “Legend of Sleep Hollow” by Washington Irving.įirst published in 1819, the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman was set in Sleepy Hollow in the Hudson Valley. We will make a small commission from these links if you order something at no additional cost to you. Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links.
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