Literary Figure: Washington Irving Memorial - Irvington, NY

Washington Irving Memorial

Irvington, NY

N 41° 02.884 W 073° 51.679

Short Description: 

The Washington Irving Memorial is located on the west side of Route 9 at Broadway and Sunnyside Lane in Irvington, NY.

Long Description:

The Washington Irving Memorial was commissioned in 1926, sculpted by Daniel Chester French, the architect was Charles Platt Adams, it was cast at the Gorham Manufacturing Company, and fabricated by Piccirilli Brothers Marble Carving Studios. It was dedicated on June 27, 1927, rededicated June 27, 1977 and rededicated once again on October 25, 1998.

A bronze plaque at ground level is inscribed:

WASHINGTON IRVING MEMORIAL

WASHINGTON IRVING WAS THE FIRST OF EARLY AMERICA'S GREAT AUTHORS. THIS MONUMENT IS A TESTAMENT TO NOT ONLY TO IRVING, BUT ALSO TO THE IMAGINATION AND TENACITY OF JENNY PRINCE BLACK, A PROMINENT IRVINGTON CITIZEN, WHO WORKED FOR YEARS TO MAKE IT A REALITY. IT ALSO MANIFESTS THE ARTISTRY OF SCULPTOR DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH, THE CREATOR OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL. AMONG OTHER PROMINENT WORKS. THE ARCHITECT FOR THE IRVING MONUMENT WAS FRENCH'S LONGTIME COLLABORATOR, CHARLES PLATT ADAMS. THE LAND WAS DONATED BY HENRY GRAVES, JR. MRS. BLACK LED THE FUND-RAISING, WHICH RANGED FROM A GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION BY JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR. TO PENNIES FROM SCHOOL CHILDREN.

THE MONUMENT WAS COMPLETED AND DEDICATED IN 1927. AFTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF CORROSION, THE MONUMENT WAS RESTORED BY IRVING LANDMARK PRESERVATION, INC., WITH SUPPORT FROM THE VILLAGE OF IRVINGTON AND FROM SAVE OUTDOOR SCULPTURE OF WASHINGTON D.C. THE MONUMENT WAS REDEDICATED IN A VILLAGE CEREMONY IN 1998. AS A MASTERPIECE OF DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH, IT IS LISTED ON THE NEW YORK STATE AND NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

IRVINGTON LANDMARK PRESERVATION, INC.

In the center of a curved pink granite wall a pedestal holds a 34 by 32 by 13 inch bronze bust of Washington Irving. On Irving's right side is a 6' high bronze relief sculpture of Boabdil on Irving's left side is a 6' high bronze relief sculpture of Rip Van Winkle.

Irving is depicted wearing a coat and an ascot tie. Boabdil shown in 3/4 profile facing Irving. He is wearing a long robed garment, boots and a pointed cap. He holds a sword which is hung from his left side. Rip Van Winkle is shown in 3/4 profile facing Irving. He is wearing a ragged long coat and wide-brimmed hat. He holds a rifle vertically by the barrel with his left hand.

On pedestal below the bust of Irving is the inscription in bronze letters:

WASHINGTON

IRVING

1783-1859

ESSAYIST POET

HISTORIAN TRAVELLER

DIPLOMATIST SOLDIER

THE FIRST AUTHOR OF

OUR REPUBLIC 

Below the relief of Boabdil is inscribed in bronze letters:

BOABDIL

THE LAST KING OF GRANADA 

Below relief on Rip Van Winkle is inscribed in bronze letters:

RIP VAN WINKLE

THE DREAMER OF THE KAATSKILLS

Chronological works of Washington Irving

Letters of Jonathan Oldstyle
Salmagundi
A History of New York (Satire)
The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
Bracebridge Hall
Tales of a Traveller
A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus
Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada (History)
Voyages and Discoveries of the Companions of Columbus
Tales of the Alhambra
The Crayon Miscellany
Astoria
The Adventures of Captain Bonneville
The Life of Oliver Goldsmith
Biography and Poetical Remains
of the Late Margaret Miller Davidson
Lives of Mahomet and His Successors
Wolfert's Roost
Diedrich Knickerbocker
The Life of George Washington (5 volumes)