DUE TO THE UNFORTUNATE RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL FOR OUR PANEL OF SPEAKERS AND THE POTENTIAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS FOR LARGE GATHERINGS, THE CONFERENCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED AT THIS TIME. WE WILL KEEP EVERYONE ADVISED OF ANY UPDATES FOR THE CONFERENCE.
THE TOURS ON SUNDAY ARE STILL AVAILABLE. 
Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane at 200:
An Appreciation of Washington Irving and Lost Time
A Literary Conference
Tarrytown, New York
April 3-5, 2020
The Historical Society serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown is partnering with Historic Hudson Valley and Professor Andrew Burstein (Charles P. Manship Professor of History, Louisiana State University) in staging a literary conference, which will take place in April 2020. The conference is in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Washington Irving’s publication of The Sketch Book by Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. The Sketchbook contains numerous well-known short stories, including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which is integral to the history and development of the Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow community.
Author, statesman, and traveler, Washington Irving had a profound impact on American culture. He is known today primarily for the American folktales found in the Sketch Book. However, the collection contains many equally fascinating, if lesser-known, stories and essays. These, as well as “Rip Van Winkle” and “Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” will be gently picked apart and properly appreciated over the course of the weekend program.
The three-day conference will bring together Irving scholars, experts in 19th century literature and history, and the public. It will begin with a Friday night public lecture by Professor Burstein, author of the acclaimed biography “The Original Knickerbocker: The Life of Washington Irving.” The Friday evening public event will continue with a presentation by actor Curtis Armstrong titled “The Theatrical Irving: an Actor’s Ruminations.” On Saturday, the Literary Symposium, a daylong series of roundtable discussions re-examining Washington Irving will take place at the Westchester Marriott, followed by an early evening reception and book signing. The final day of the conference, Sunday, will include tours of local historic sites.
Conference Participants Abstracts
The Washington Irving Literary Conference is part of the Legend Bicentennial Celebration. The Villages of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, together with The Historical Society, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, and Historic Hudson Valley, as well as a number of additional local organizations, are exploring Irving’s cultural and artistic legacy in a celebration that will engage the community and our many visitors throughout 2019 and 2020.
The Literary Conference Committee would like to acknowledge the Trustees of the Village of Sleepy Hollow for their support.
