As soon as I determined I was taking a trip to New York to visit friends in the summer of 2003, I knew I'd have to find the time for an excursion 14 miles north of New York City to the town of Sleepy Hollow to see the fabled Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, made famous in Washington Irving's "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow". Of course, I do realize that was a work of fiction, so the chance that I'd actually encounter the Headless Horseman himself was relatively slim, but this is such a landmark cemetery that I had to see it for myself. And being from California, the prospect of viewing gravestones dating pre-1850 is very, very exciting as well, so I knew that I couldn't lose.

And so on a hot July afternoon, I arrived at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in what was formerly known as North Tarrytown before the citizens decided, rather unimaginatively, to rename the town Sleepy Hollow in 1997. (Personally, even though Sleepy Hollow has a lovely ring to it, I favor keeping the name North Tarrytown, as it was during Irving's time, as I am a staunch traditionalist when it comes to all things morbid.)

There are actually two separate cemeteries here: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and The Old Dutch Burying Grounds. The latter is by far the more fascinating of the two, as it is so much older and atmospheric, with an 1837 church anchoring its corner. However, the Dutch Burying Grounds lack two essential things that Sleepy Hollow has: Washington Irving and a nice stream with a bridge running through it so you can remind yourself of the Headless Horseman chasing Ichabod Crane. So, your trip to old North Tarrytown is not complete unless you explore them both. Since they're adjacent, that's very easy to do.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the pictures, some of which were sent to me by Kelly Cash, who managed to get there a couple of years before I did. Thanks, Kelly!

As you drive past the cemetery, this gateway beckons you to pull over and stay awhile. And you know you cannot resist...	Another shot of the front gateway.	The starting point for my explorations was the Old Dutch Burying Ground which lies to the far right as you enter the front gate. This is one of the many wonderful old gravestones here, several of which are in Dutch. Don't you just love the wig on that soul effigy carving?	Here's a simple, yet elegant one, with a rather comical carving. "Here Lies the Body of mary Drak the wife of gilbart drak Departed the 29 Day of April 1757 Aged 32 years"	Here's a close-up of Mary Drak's happy little effigy head.
This double-gravestone was erected to the memory of Christina and Evert Arser, brother and sister, who died within a month of each other from an epidemic disease in 1765. It's a bit hard to read, so here's the complete transcription of the left, and right sides of the stone: "Here Lies The Body of Christina Arser - The Daughter of William And Barbara Arser - Who Departed This Life February 15 Anno Do - 1765 - Aged 17 Years 11 Months & 14 Days In Lives Full Joys And Virtuous Fare of Bloom Untimely Check and Horreed To The Tomb Life How Short Eternity How Long" "Here Lies The Body of Evert Arser - The Son of William And Barbara Arser - Who Departed This Life January [??] Anno Do - 1765 - Age 22 Years 11 Months & 26 Days Hark From The Tomb A Doulfull Voice My Ears Atends Cry You Liven Men Com View The Grounds Were You Must Shortly Lie"
A simple but sad stone commemorates Amy Requa: "HERE lies the BODY of AMY REQUA wife of Stephen van Wart with her Infant by her side. She died Feb,y 22, 1804 Aged 19 Years & 10 Days "The golden bowl by death is broke The pitcher's broke in twan The cistern wheel has felt the stroke The pleasant Child is slain The winding sheet doth bind its limbs The Coffin holds it fast To day 'tis seen by all it's friends But this must be the last"
Close-up of the sad face on Amy Requa's grave.	Here's another gravestone writ in Dutch.	And a close-up of the rather comical looking soul effigy.	The Old Dutch Burying Grounds wind around the Old Dutch Church, built in 1697.	And here's the sign to prove it!
Here's the inscription on the side of the church.	I liked this composition of the door to the church.	Here's a shot of the Old Dutch Church.	Here's the gate to the Old Dutch Burying Grounds.	Another shot of the church with the graveyard beside.
Here's a nice "Memento Mori": In Memory of ANN the widow & relict of Edward Couenhoven she died Nov. 6 1797. Aged 63 Years 8 Months and 6 Days.	Here's a close-up of Ann's headstone. The bird poop almost looks like a teardrop, doesn't it?	In Memory of DELEVERANCE ACKER who died Oct. 15th 1804 aged 20 Years & 6 months. -- Call and see as you pass by As you are now so once was I As I am now so must you be Prepare for death and follow me. Show pity Lord, O Lord forgive, Let a repenting rebel live: Are not thy mercies large and free? May not a sinner trust in thee? O wash my soul from every sin, And make my guilty conscience clean; Here on my heart the burden lies, And past offenses pain my eyes. <can't read the rest>	This simple stone is: In Memory OF MARIA, the daughter, of Daniel & Anna Odell. Aged 5 Years, 5 Months and 19 Days.	Although the inscription has been worn away, I found this carving to be rather creepy, with its melted look. Funny how the choice of tombstone material can make all the difference between being remembered or forgotten...
A view of some of the simpler stones in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, adjacent to the Old Dutch Burying Grounds.	Here's another colorful olde stone. Here Lyes the Body of James Barnerd Who Departed This Life the 4 of March 1768 In the 48 Year of his Age. The Boisterous Winds and Neptuns Waves have Tost me too and Fro By God's decree you Phinly See I am Harbour'd here Below	This deathhead has a pineapple atop it - a welcoming sign. The inscription is typically straightforward, however: Here Lyes the Body of Deborah Pugsley the Wife of William Pugsley Who Departed this Life September the 9th 1770 Aged 4? Years & 18 days	Here's another simple olde stone: In Memory of SUSANNA wife of JOSEPH PAULDING who died Nov'r 13th AD 1790, Aged 80 Years 8 Months and 28 Days. -------- Sufficed with life My spirits fled, And I'm at rest Among the dead.	Here's a view of the many stones in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
And here's the gate to the most famous grave in the cemetery - Washington Irving's family plot!	Here's a view of the steps that lead up to the Irving family plot.	And here's the marker commemorating the Irving family grave. This doesn't actually mark the gravesite of Washington Irving, however...	The white stone in the middle of this mass is the actual Washington Irving gravestone.	Near the Irving graves are a number of lovely old crypts, including this one for the Benedict family.
The Benedict crypt had some lovely ironwork on its door, which I had to photograph. Here's the door in its entirely, showing the hourglass and star/moon figures.	Here's a close-up of the hourglass.	And here's a blurry close-up of the star and moon. I absolutely adore this image, even though it's out of focus. Actually, I think I adore it more because it's out of focus...	Here's another nice door of a nearby crypt. This time, it's an anchor motif.	And here's a close-up of the anchor.
Here are some more lovely crypts built into the hillside. This one is for the Copcutt family.	In this shot you can see the Hudson River in the distance.	I found these graves for the "Coffin" family to be rather amusing, for some unknown reason.	Here are some more Coffin family graves.	Here's a detail from a nice iron fence.
This was a particularly nice crypt, for the Rhinelander family (circa 1895).	A tree had completely transected these gravestones.	Here's another shot of the Old Dutch Church.	A creek winds its way alongside the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, adding that nice Headless Horseman feel to the place.	Here's one of the bridges that cross the creek in the cemetery.
It's a really lovely stream.	I noticed this crude gravestone, which appears to say "Tut," under the water. Kinda creepy...	Another shot of the surrounding countryside, courtesy Kelly Cash.	A shot of the "Headless Horseman Bridge" courtesy Kelly Cash.	There are a few extremely regal tombs in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery as well, such as this one.
And this one - the most regal of them all... the enormous William Rockefeller tomb.	A close-up of the Rockefeller tomb.	Rockefeller died in 1922. I guess his grave was awaiting him...	A shot of the cemetery by Kelly Cash.	Another view courtesy of Kelly.
And one last decrepit gravestone, from Kelly.