Founded circa 1685, this historic church and churchyard is one of New York’s oldest churches. Made famous by Washington Irving's story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” it is said to be the purported haunt of the headless horseman.
 

The church’s 2.5-acre burying ground and not the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is the actual resting place of local citizens who likely inspired Irving’s characters of Katrina Van Tassel, Brom Bones, and others in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
 

The church was also used by General George Washington w rested his troops at the church during the American Revolution.
 

Self-guided tours are welcome while the cemetery is open; gates are closed and locked at 4:30 p.m. – before the ghost of the headless horseman rides “rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head.” — The Legend of Sleepy Hollow