Not every Washington Street is named for George. This one’s for American writer Washington Irving (1783-1859) – and if you’re at all skeptical about the etymology, one block south you’ll find Irving Street. The author is best known for his short stories like Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, but here in Alhambra he is honored for his 1832 work Tales of the Alhambra, a collection of essays written during his 1828 visit to the titular landmark in Granada. It introduced countless readers to the romance of Old Spain and inspired the Wilson family to name their 1874 tract Alhambra.
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