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Sleepy Hollow Horseman
A Hessian soldier lost his head to a cannonball during the Revolution. Now he rides through Sleepy Hollow searching for it. Washington Irving wrote of him in 1820, but locals knew him before. The horseman still rides.
1790s - Present
Tarrytown, New York, USA
200+ witnesses
The Headless Horseman is America’s most famous ghost.
The Legend
The story:
- Hessian mercenary
- Revolutionary War
- Decapitated by cannonball
- Buried in churchyard
- Rises nightly
Washington Irving
The famous tale:
- 1820 publication
- “Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
- Ichabod Crane
- Classic American literature
- Based on local tales
The Location
Sleepy Hollow:
- Tarrytown, New York
- Old Dutch Church
- Burial ground
- Headless Hollow Bridge
- Haunted atmosphere
Pre-Irving Accounts
Earlier reports:
- Dutch settlers knew
- Local legends existed
- Irving drew from them
- Not his invention
- Community stories
Modern Sightings
Still reported:
- Horseman seen
- Near old church
- Bridge area
- Headless figure
- Ongoing encounters
The Tourism
Current status:
- Major attraction
- Halloween destination
- Tours offered
- Sleepy Hollow name
- Legend lives