Washington Irving Memorial, Bronze statue in Bryant Park, New York, United States
The Washington Irving Memorial is a bronze portrait bust of the American author, mounted on a stone base and placed in Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan. It stands close to the main entrance of the New York Public Library, making it easy to spot when approaching from the street.
The memorial was dedicated in 1927, honoring one of the first American writers to gain recognition outside the country. It was made by sculptor Frederick MacMonnies, who was already known in the United States for other public works at that time.
Washington Irving wrote stories like "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", which remain part of everyday American storytelling to this day. The memorial sits inside a park that New Yorkers use as a daily gathering spot, so the literary tribute and city life exist side by side.
The memorial sits at the eastern edge of Bryant Park, near 42nd Street, and is easy to find without any special preparation. The park is open every day, so you can stop by at any time without planning ahead.
The stone base of the memorial contains material taken from Sunnyside, Irving's former home in New York State. This means the sculpture is partly built from the walls of the place where the author actually lived, which is unusual for a public tribute of this kind.
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