The Original Knickerbocker Tour: Washington Irving & “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

Meet the father of the American short story on this one-hour walking tour through the south end of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. You’ll get to know Washington Irving—the man behind the Headless Horseman, Ichabod Crane, and Katrina Van Tassel—and discover why the writer who dreamed up “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is himself called the Original Knickerbocker.

Your guide leads you across the storied grounds of this 177-year-old cemetery, tracing Irving’s lasting mark on American literature and the two-century legacy of the tale that gave this village its name. Along the way you’ll pause at landmarks like the Receiving Vault and the Revolutionary War Memorial, decode the symbolism hidden in the cemetery’s Victorian statuary and headstones, and visit the resting place of Irving himself. It’s a fun, atmospheric way to spend an hour—and the perfect anchor for a day steeped in Sleepy Hollow’s autumn spirit.

Location: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, South Gate — 430 North Broadway
Parking: Free parking is available inside the gate.
What to expect: This tour covers unpaved, grassy terrain with a steep hill and some stairs. Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers are strongly recommended. Tours run rain or shine; if a tour is canceled for severe weather, refunds are issued and cancellations are posted at least one hour beforehand.
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays through September from 1:00-2:00 p.m. and 3:00-4:00 p.m. October and November dates will be posted in early September.

Advance tickets required. All tour proceeds support the preservation and restoration of the cemetery grounds through the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Historic Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.