Sleepy Hollow, New York: History, Legends & Halloween

Discover Sleepy Hollow

Nestled in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, Sleepy Hollow is a historic Hudson Valley village forever linked to Washington Irving’s classic tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

Washington Irving’s Legacy

Irving’s 1819 short story immortalized the village and its headless horseman. The author himself lived at Sunnyside, his riverside home, now a National Historic Site open for tours.

Historic Landmarks

• Old Dutch Church & Burying Ground – Built in 1685, it’s Westchester’s oldest surviving church and features in Irving’s story.
• Sleepy Hollow Cemetery – Adjacent to the church, it holds Irving’s tomb and the reputed haunt of the Headless Horseman.
• Philipsburg Manor – A restored 17th-century Dutch manor house showcasing colonial life.
• Lyndhurst – A magnificent Gothic Revival mansion from the 1830s.

Halloween Capital

Each October, Sleepy Hollow embraces its spooky reputation with haunted hayrides, costume contests, historical reenactments, and the famous “Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze.”