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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> United States >> Mansions, Estates, Gardens, Churches, Zoos and Museums in the U.S. >> Hudson Valley, NY Mansions, Estates, Gardens, Churches and Schools >> Washington Irving's Sunnyside at Tarrytown, NY (October 2009) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Washington Irving's Sunnyside at Tarrytown, NY (October 2009)

Washington Irving’s Sunnyside is an historic house built on the banks of the Hudson River in Tarrytown, NY. Washington Irving (1783-1859) was the first successful author in the United States who was able to support himself with his writing. His most famous works are the short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle." Sunnyside was started long before Washington Irving when Wolfert Acker, who was Dutch, built a small cottage called "Wolfert's Roost" on Philipsburg Manor in 1656. In 1802, the Van Tassell family bought the cottage. In 1835, after 17 years of foreign travel, Washington Irving bought a small parcel of land and a run-down farmhouse formerly owned by the Van Tassell family. In a letter to his brother, Peter, Irving wrote "It is a beautiful spot, capable of being made a little paradise." Irving hired George Harvey to help him with the house's remodeling and enlargement. The result reflected Irving’s romantic view of life with its wisteria-covered façade, gabled entrance and Spanish tower. When Irving was nominated as Minister to Spain in 1842, he left Sunnyside with sadness. His brother Ebenezer took care of it until he returned to Sunnyside in 1846. Washington Irving lived with Ebenezer and some of his nieces until he died of a heart attack in at Sunnyside in 1859. His family continued to live at Sunnyside until 1945, when John D. Rockefeller, Jr. bought the house. It was opened it to the public in 1947 and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962. Today, guides dressed in mid-Victorian period costumes conduct tours of the house.
Washington Irving's Sunnyside at Tarrytown, NY cover page.
Washington Irving's Sunnyside at Tarrytown, NY cover page.		 Hudson Valley map showing Tarrytown and Sunnyside, indicated by the star.
Hudson Valley map showing Tarrytown and Sunnyside, indicated by the star.		 Statue of Washington Irving at Sunnyside.
Statue of Washington Irving at Sunnyside.		 This is the original road that one took to Washington Irving's house in the 19th century.
This is the original road that one took to Washington Irving's house in the 19th century.
Entrance and gate to Sunnyside with the Hudson River in the background.
Entrance and gate to Sunnyside with the Hudson River in the background.		 View of the house after coming through the entrance.
View of the house after coming through the entrance.		 As in Washington Irving's time, the house is still covered with wisteria.
As in Washington Irving's time, the house is still covered with wisteria.		 Irving wrote about the house, My idea is to make a little nookery somewhat in the Dutch style, quaint, but unpretending.
Irving wrote about the house, "My idea is to make a little nookery somewhat in the Dutch style, quaint, but unpretending."
The romantic Spanish tower make Sunnyside instantly recognizable.
The romantic Spanish tower make Sunnyside instantly recognizable.		 Close-up of the Spanish tower.
Close-up of the Spanish tower.		 Dutch-style stepped edge of the roof.
Dutch-style stepped edge of the roof.		 Sunnyside started before Washington Irving when Wolfert Acker, who was Dutch, built a cottage called Wolfert's Roost in 1656.
Sunnyside started before Washington Irving when Wolfert Acker, who was Dutch, built a cottage called "Wolfert's Roost" in 1656.
It is dubious that this date is accurate, though, since this may not be the same house that belonged to Acker.
It is dubious that this date is accurate, though, since this may not be the same house that belonged to Acker.		 Decorative trim over a second floor window.
Decorative trim over a second floor window.		 Sunnyside's porch faces the Hudson River.
Sunnyside's porch faces the Hudson River.		 The door from the porch was often left open during the warmer months.
The door from the porch was often left open during the warmer months.
Porch furniture for Irving and his family to enjoy the outdoors and the Hudson River view.
Porch furniture for Irving and his family to enjoy the outdoors and the Hudson River view.		 A rear view of Sunnyside with the Spanish tower in view.
A rear view of Sunnyside with the Spanish tower in view.		 I could not imagine what this small, low building was for.
I could not imagine what this small, low building was for.		 It is the Ice House where ice was kept frozen for most of the year.
It is the Ice House where ice was kept frozen for most of the year.
Blocks of ice were buried under the straw in the winter to keep them from melting when it the seasons changed.
Blocks of ice were buried under the straw in the winter to keep them from melting when it the seasons changed.		 The rustic bridge at Sunnyside. The bridge and landscaping reflected Irving’s romantic view of life.
The rustic bridge at Sunnyside. The bridge and landscaping reflected Irving’s romantic view of life.

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