There are a couple ways you can enter the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. One way is through the graveyard around the Old Dutch Church, the other is through a couple of large iron gates down the street... the cemetery is huge, having about 1500 marked graves, and reportedly 3000 unmarked graves.
The grave of Washington Irving
Many famous people are buried in Sleepy Hollow's rolling cemetery. Famous writer Washington Irving, responsible for unsheathing the Sleepy Hollow legend of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, is one of those honorable residents. One can also find the graves of the Van Tassels, Katrina's namesakes in Irving's story. The Hessian soldier, the real Headless Horseman, is buried in an open space close to the church in an unmarked grave. Unfortunately, all the markers were stolen by Sleepy Hollow souvenir seekers, so you have to talk to the People In the Know (like Bill, the Grounds-Keeper) to locate certain pieces of history. Please take into account these people were the inspirations for Washington Iriving's story, they are not the actual characters in the legend. In addition, if you ever happen to make it to Sleepy Hollow's cemetery, do not perform grave rubbings on the headstones (this deteriorates them), write graffitti on them, take off chunks, or steal anything that does not belong to you. Taking pictures is a safe and respectable way to appreciate these pieces of American culture, and the citizens of Sleepy Hollow will also thank you.
