Sunnyside
Also known as: Washington Irving House
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Sunnyside is the Hudson River home of author Washington Irving, on Route 9 near Tarrytown, New York. The core of the house is a small 17th-century Dutch stone cottage, traditionally dated 1656. Irving first saw it as a youth and bought it in 1835, after returning from 17 years in Europe. Working with Boston artist George Harvey, he enlarged it with a stone ell, red tile roofs, crow-stepped gables, a Gothic-style porch and, in 1847, a stuccoed three-story tower mixing Gothic and Chinese-inspired details. He also laid out winding paths, gardens, an orchard and ponds across the grounds. Irving lived and worked here until his death in 1859. The Irving family kept the property until John D. Rockefeller bought it in 1945, and Sleepy Hollow Restorations now operates it as a museum. A 1896 wing was removed during restoration in 1959-60, and the kitchen yard was reconstructed. About 27 acres of the original estate lie within the landmark boundary.
Significance in brief: The property was the home where Washington Irving lived and worked for the last 24 years of his life, after returning from Europe as America's foremost prose writer. The house was remodeled to Irving's own picturesque taste with George Harvey, and the grounds were landscaped by Irving. It is maintained as a memorial to him.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000583, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Sunnyside Lane, Tarrytown |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000583 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1835-1859 |
| Architect / builder | George Harvey |
| Areas of significance | Literature |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 29, 1962 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned and maintained by Sleepy Hollow Restorations as a museum in a memorial to Irving; condition listed as excellent and altered; restored in 1958-60. |
| Acreage | 27 |
| Coordinates | 41.04804, -73.86840 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000583.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q847862
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.