Washington Irving

Washington Irving was born in 1783 in New York City. His family had eleven children of which three died at birth.

Washington Irving met George Washington when he was five. He went to a store with his nanny and she said, "This bairn that’s called after ye!" Washington Irving was named after George Washington, the victorious Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. His mother said Washington’s work is done and the child could be named after him.

Washington Irving toured Europe at the age of 22.



In 1832, Washington Irving moved to Tarrytown after touring Europe. Then he bought Sunnyside in 1835 and started writing books.



Washington Irving in the 1850’s when he was appointed ambassador to Spain. At the time he was living at Sunnyside.



The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was a book written by Washington Irving. It was one of his famous stories. He used real people but the story was imaginary. This book is about a school teacher’s experience with a legendary headless horseman. The story takes place in the countryside of New York. This story is an American classic.



Rip Van Winkle is about an individual who goes to the Kaatskill Mountains (sic) and falls asleep after getting drunk. He wakes up twenty years later and tries to find his way back to the village but he does not recognize anything.




This is the pond "Little Mediterranean" that Washington Irving created to accompany his beautiful landscape. He used to write his stories sitting by this pond



This is the back view of his house or Sunnyside.



Produced by: Ricky, Ajay, Diana, Justin, and Annabelle