THE STORY
Reported Haunting
A bridge over the Pocantico River in Sleepy Hollow marks the area traditionally associated with the climactic pursuit in Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The original bridge is gone, but the location remains tied to stories of the Headless Horseman, phantom hoofbeats and a dark rider appearing near the river.
Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" culminates with Ichabod Crane racing toward a bridge as the Headless Horseman pursues him through the night. The original bridge associated with the tale no longer survives, and modern bridges in the area should not be mistaken for the exact historic structure. Nevertheless, the Pocantico River crossing near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery remains one of the most recognizable physical locations attached to the legend. Visitors and local folklore continue to associate the area with phantom hoofbeats, shadowy riders and the spectral Hessian Horseman. This entry represents the traditional bridge site and legend rather than a claim that the present bridge is the original one.