Cemetery
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Washington Irving lies in this hillside cemetery above the Hudson, where Gilded Age mausoleums, headstones from the 1700s and the Headless Horseman Bridge bring The Legend of Sleepy Hollow close.
The story
Founded in 1849 as a non-denominational, non-profit cemetery, these grounds stretch north from the smaller Old Dutch Burying Ground and its church, the setting Irving drew on for his tale. Irving and his family rest here, signposted along the paths, alongside Andrew Carnegie and names such as Chrysler, Rockefeller, Astor, Helmsley and Arden. Enormous mausoleums raised in the late 1800s and early 1900s as monuments to Gilded Age wealth line the hilly lanes, and one can be seen into through glass. Beyond the famous graves, a walk leads to the Headless Horseman Bridge over a creek, and the higher ground opens onto views of the Hudson. Printed maps with street names are posted around the grounds to help with finding the way. After dark, guides carry lanterns on evening tours, sharing the history and stories behind the graves.
Good to know
TAGGG AI- ✦The grounds are large and very hilly, so wear good walking shoes or drive the lanes if walking is difficult.
- ✦Arrive early, as crowds build by the afternoon, and expect it to be especially busy in October and on Halloween.
- ✦Book the evening lantern tour to walk the cemetery in the dark with a guide explaining its unique graves.