Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Mitch W

6 months ago

Went to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery around Halloween and honestly had such a good time. The whole place just feels different in October cool air, leaves everywhere, and that quiet, slightly spooky vibe that makes it perfect for the season. One of the coolest parts was seeing Washington Irving’s grave (the author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow). Standing there thinking about the Headless Horseman and knowing that’s where the story started was pretty surreal. If you grew up hearing that story, it’s a neat moment. The cemetery itself is really beautiful and peaceful, not cheesy or overly touristy. It’s more historic and scenic than “haunted house” energy, which I liked. Definitely worth walking around and taking your time. If you’re anywhere nearby in the fall, I’d recommend checking it out. It just feels right around Halloween.

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Tracy Berthelson

6 months ago

We decided to take a roadtrip to Sleepy Hollow and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery because we loved the book and movie and it was a beautiful day! The cemetery is beautiful and has a peaceful energy. We enjoyed walking around the cemetery and looking at the designs of mausoleums and tombstones. It was interesting to see that some tombstones date back to the 1700's. So much history here. Also many famous people are buried here. The cemetery grounds are well maintained! It was really cool to walk across the Headless Horseman Bridge! It was peaceful looking at the creek while standing on the bridge. If you loved reading Irving Washington's Sleepy Hollow or loved the movie, definitely check the cemetery out as well as the town. Hope to come back and do the Lantern Tour!

Review from Google

cdk007

7 months ago

This is likely one of the most famous cemeteries in the country, not because of who is buried here, but because of the legend of who haunts it, and that is likely the reason you’ve come to visit. That or maybe you just like wandering amongst thousands of graves dating from the 1700s to the present. This cemetery is also known for the many enormous mausoleums erected in the late 1800s and early 1900s as temples to the wealth of the gilded age. Do not confuse this cemetery with the older and smaller Old Dutch Burying Ground located to the south surrounding the Old Dutch Church. The cemetery has actually expanded a few times over the centuries. The original cemetery was the one nestled close to the church at the south end, but the distinct Sleepy Hollow Cemetery was set on land running from the Old Dutch Burying Ground north to roughly where the main gate from Broadway is today. The land to the north was a privately owned estate known as Pocantico Grove owned by the Sacchi family. That land was eventually acquired in the late 1800s and the cemetery expanded north to where we see it today. Interestingly a 1900 map of the town shows the cemetery also expanding significantly to the west, occupying land where Millard, Highland, and Palmer Ave are today. The cemetery is actually shown to extend all the way to the railroad tracks down by the Hudson River. Today the cemetery is only east of Broadway, so what became of this expansion, was it only a plan or were graves moved, I do not know. A few things to know for those who visit. You can park for free along the road inside the cemetery but the gates close at 4:30. One can also park for free on any of the side streets to the west of the cemetery. The cemetery is set atop a hill, so do expect to do some hiking if you plan to explore the entire plot. There is a paved road that snakes around the cemetery making it technically handicapped accessible, but the hills can be very steep. The weekend we visited, close to Halloween, is likely the busiest the cemetery ever gets throughout the year, and in all fairness it was actually pleasant to see folks exploring the grounds. There were many portable bathrooms set up, but I do not know if those exist year round. If you want to see all the famous graves, and leave time just to wander and explore, give yourself at least 2 hours.

Review from Google

Shauna Toretto

11 months ago

This has to be the most beautiful Cemetery I have ever visited. They have made it extremely easy for visitors to find where they are going and have maps printed around the grounds with street names do you can find your way. If you're visiting just for the Washington Irving memorial they have signs posted for directions. There is so much more to see I would highly encourage you drive the grounds of you don't have time to walk them. Hats off to the grounds crew here as I'm sure it's a lot of work. They were immaculately maintained for the amount of foot traffic I am sure they receive here daily! Very impressive! They also have donation banks around to help fund the Cemetery! Highly recommend leaving a donation as this is a completely free attraction otherwise aside from the night tours that happen here.

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Julie Wear

9 months ago

My husband and I did the Classic Evening Lantern Tour for our visit to this amazing cemetery. It was great! We really enjoyed learning about the history of the unique graves and had fun walking around the cemetery in the dark. Amanda was our guide and she was awesome! Fun and very knowledgeable! It was a lot of fun and I highly recommend!

Review from Google