Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Headless Horseman Bridge

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 28, 2008

1. The Headless Horseman Bridge Marker

Inscription.
Described by Irving in The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow
formerly spanned this
stream at this spot.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Bridges & Viaducts • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Colonial Era.

Location. 41° 5.383′ N, 73° 51.71′ W. Marker is in Sleepy Hollow, New York, in Westchester County. Marker is at the intersection of N Broadway (U.S. 9) and Sleepy Hollow Avenue, on the right when traveling north on N Broadway. Marker is located at the entrance to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tarrytown NY 10591, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Headless Horseman (within shouting distance of this marker); Our Union Soldiers (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Dutch Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Philipsburg Manor (about 700 feet away); “The Memorial Church of Washington Irving” (approx. half a mile away); Tarrytown World War II Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Gold Star Mothers (approx. half a mile away); Korean & Viet Nam Memorial Monuments (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sleepy Hollow.

Also see . . .

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1. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Wikipedia entry:
“The story is set circa 1790 in the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town, in a secluded glen called Sleepy Hollow. It tells the story of Ichabod Crane, a sycophantic, lean, lanky, and extremely superstitious schoolmaster from Connecticut, who competes with Abraham ‘Brom Bones’ Van Brunt, the town rowdy, for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter and sole child of a wealthy farmer, Baltus Van Tassel. As Crane leaves a party he attended at the Van Tassel home on an autumn night, he is pursued by the Headless Horseman, who is supposedly the ghost of a Hessian trooper who had his head shot off by a stray cannonball during ‘some nameless battle’ of the American Revolutionary War, and who ‘rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head’.” (Submitted on August 10, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

2. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Short story by Washington Irving at Wikipedia:
“As [Ichabod Crane] approached the stream, his heart began to thump; he summoned up, however, all his resolution, gave his horse half a score of kicks in the ribs, and attempted to dash briskly across the bridge; but instead of starting forward, the perverse old animal made a lateral movement, and ran broadside against the fence. Ichabod, whose fears increased with the delay, jerked the reins on the other

Marker at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 2008

2. Marker at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

side, and kicked lustily with the contrary foot: it was all in vain; his steed started, it is true, but it was only to plunge to the opposite side of the road into a thicket of brambles and alder bushes. The schoolmaster now bestowed both whip and heel upon the starveling ribs of old Gunpowder, who dashed forward, snuffling and snorting, but came to a stand just by the bridge, with a suddenness that had nearly sent his rider sprawling over his head. Just at this moment a plashy tramp by the side of the bridge caught the sensitive ear of Ichabod. In the dark shadow of the grove, on the margin of the brook, he beheld something huge, misshapen and towering. It stirred not, but seemed gathered up in the gloom, like some gigantic monster ready to spring upon the traveller.” (Submitted on June 28, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

3. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Cemetery website homepage (Submitted on June 28, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Additional keywords. Washington Irving

Marker on Sleepy Hollow Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 28, 2008

3. Marker on Sleepy Hollow Bridge

This bridge is part of Route 9 in Sleepy Hollow. It is located at the Old Dutch Church and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. The bridge plaque can be seen in the photo.

Closeup of Sleepy Hollow Bridge Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Clifton Patrick, May 24, 2010

4. Closeup of Sleepy Hollow Bridge Plaque

“Sleepy Hollow Bridge. Erected to the memory of Washington Irving, 1783–1859.”

Bridge Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 28, 2008

5. Bridge Plaque

Sleepy Hollow Bridge
Erected to the memory of
Washington Irving
1783-1859

Headless Horseman Bridge in Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 28, 2008

6. Headless Horseman Bridge in Cemetery

This bridge over the Pocantico River can be found within Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Another view of The Headless Horseman Bridge Replica image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 9, 2010

7. Another view of The Headless Horseman Bridge Replica

Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 28, 2008

8. Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman

This monument to Washington Irving's story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is located nearby on the grounds of the Philips Manor.

Bridge credits plaque. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Clifton Patrick, May 24, 2010

9. Bridge credits plaque.

A.D. 1912 Erected by William Rockerfeller Land Donated by Phillipse Manor Co. Board of Trustees John Wirth Pres. Michael J. Murphy H. L. Kuntz Edward Devlin George Babcock Irving De Revere Frederick W. Beck E. A. Martin, Clerk W. G. Given, Counsel Wulff Engineering Co., Engineers O'Rouke Contracting Co. Cont'r

U.S. postage stamp of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" image. Click for full size.

Via USPS, 1974

10. U.S. postage stamp of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

Issued October 12, 1974 - North Tarrytown, New York
1974 Commemorative 10¢ First Class postage stamp - Designer: Leonard Everett Fisher
Bureau of Engraving and Printing - U.S. Post Office

Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,753 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 28, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4. submitted on May 24, 2011, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. 5, 6. submitted on June 28, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 7. submitted on August 10, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 8. submitted on June 28, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 9. submitted on May 24, 2011, by Clifton Patrick of Chester, NY, United States. 10. submitted on April 1, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.