Bixby in Tulsa County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
Washington Irving
(1783-1859)
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 18, 2018
1. Washington Irving Marker
Inscription.
Washington Irving was one of America’s greatest writers and is considered the “Father of the American Short Story.” He is best known for THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, in which Ichabod Crane meets the neadless horseman, and RIP VAN WINKLE, which is about a man who falls asleep for 20 years. Both works are contained in THE SKETCH-BOOK OF GEOFFREY CRAYON, GENT., published in 1819.
Washington Irving (named after George Washington) had many interests, including writing, architecture and landscape design, traveling and diplomacy. However, he is best known as the first American to make a living solely from writing.
After many years of travel and life in Europe, he returned to America to establish his home in Tarrytown, New York, which he called Sunnyside Manor. This outdoor amphitheatre replicates the front of Sunnyside.
In search of new exciting writing material, Irving joined the Ellsworth-Bean government expedition to the American West, which included a 31-day, 350-mile circular tour of central Oklahoma. In mid-October 1832, he camped in the area which is now Bixby, Oklahoma.
The book which resulted from this expedition, A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES, can be considered standard fare for students of Oklahoma history. A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES, ASTORIA and THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE were the first three popular books about the West in American literature. Irving also wrote a five-volume history of George Washington (LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON).
“I was always found of visiting new scenes and observing strange characters and manners. Even when a mere child, I began my travels and made many tours of discovery into foreign parts and unknown regions of my native city…”. Introduction to THE SKETCH-BOOK OF GEOFFREY CRAYON, GENT.
Washington Irving was one of America’s greatest writers and is considered the “Father of the American Short Story.” He is best known for THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, in which Ichabod Crane meets the neadless horseman, and RIP VAN WINKLE, which is about a man who falls asleep for 20 years. Both works are contained in THE SKETCH-BOOK OF GEOFFREY CRAYON, GENT., published in 1819.
Washington Irving (named after George Washington) had many interests, including writing, architecture and landscape design, traveling and diplomacy. However, he is best known as the first American to make a living solely from writing.
After many years of travel and life in Europe, he returned to America to establish his home in Tarrytown, New York, which he called Sunnyside Manor. This outdoor amphitheatre replicates the front of Sunnyside.
In search of new exciting writing material, Irving joined the Ellsworth-Bean government expedition to the American West, which included a 31-day, 350-mile circular tour of central Oklahoma. In mid-October 1832, he camped in the area which is now Bixby, Oklahoma.
The book which resulted from this expedition, A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES, can be considered standard fare for students of Oklahoma history. A TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES, ASTORIA and THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE were the first three popular books about the West in American literature. Irving also wrote a five-volume history of George Washington (LIFE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON).
“I was always found of visiting new scenes and
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observing strange characters and manners. Even when a mere child, I began my travels and made many tours of discovery into foreign parts and unknown regions of my native city…”. Introduction to THE SKETCH-BOOK OF GEOFFREY CRAYON, GENT.
Location. 35° 57.789′ N, 95° 53.308′ W. Marker is in Bixby, Oklahoma, in Tulsa County. Marker can be reached from South Memorial Drive (U.S. 64), on the left when traveling north. Marker is located within the Washington Irving Memorial Park and Arboretum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13700 South Memorial Drive, Bixby OK 74008, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Washington Irving. (Submitted on June 5, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 18, 2018
2. Washington Irving Marker
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 18, 2018
3. Washington Irving Marker
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 18, 2018
4. Washington Irving Marker
Photographed By John Wesley Jarvis, 1809
5. Washington Irving
Photographed By Tom Bosse, May 18, 2018
6. Washington Irving Literary Works
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 354 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 5, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
