Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman - Sleepy Hollow, NY - Famous Fictional Figures on Waymarking.com

Washington Irving's classic tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was set in the Tappan Zee area of the Hudson River Valley near the Old Dutch Church and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in North Tarrytown, NY.

In this legend, the area is haunted by the Headless Horseman believed to be the ghost of a Hessian soldier who lost his head to a cannon ball during the Revolutionary War. The Horseman is seen most often riding by the Old Dutch Church and nearby cemetery, where according to local lore he was buried. He is believed to be in search of his head. Ichabod Crane is prone to believe in the supernatural and is fascinated by this story. That is, until he actually encounters the Headless Horseman.

The Village of North Tarrytown, where the legend takes place, renamed itself Sleepy Hollow in 1996. A bas relief sculpture of the Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman is located alongside Route 9, at the entrance to Philipsburg Manor, a short distance south of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

This, approximately 4' high, semi-circular granite bas relief sculpture was created by Michael Gressel and installed in 1974. It depicts the moment when Ichabod Crane was riding for his life on his horse Gunpowder. Hapless Ichabod is being closely followed by the Headless Horseman, who is about to throw his jack-o'-lantern head at Ichabod. The Old Dutch Church is shown in the background.

The sculpture was given in celebration the centennial of the village of North Tarrytown. A granite tablet in front of the sculpture is inscribed:

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