Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park |
|
|---|---|
View of the Bayard Cutting Arboretum
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Type | State park, arboretum |
| Location | 440 Montauk Highway Great River, New York |
| Nearest city | Great River, New York |
| Area | 691 acres (2.80 km2) |
| Created | 1936 |
| Operated by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Visitors | 225,456 (in 2014) |
| Open | All year |
| Website | Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park |
|
Bayard Cutting Estate
|
|
| Area | 750 acres (300 ha) |
| Architect | Charles Haight, Frederick Law Olmsted |
| Architectural style | Tudor |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001271 |
| Added to NRHP | October 2, 1973 |
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park is a large park in Great River, New York, on Long Island. It covers about 691 acres (2.80 km2). This park is special because it includes an arboretum, which is like a living museum of trees.
The arboretum was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1886 for William Bayard Cutting. There's also a beautiful mansion designed by Charles C. Haight. Today, Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park is one of the last big old estates on the South Shore of Long Island. It has been recognized as a historic district since 1973.
Contents
Park History
How the Park Began
William "Bayard" Cutting was a well-known lawyer from New York City. In 1881, he and his brother Fulton bought over 900 acres of land. This land was in a village called Oakdale. The brothers divided the property, which was known as Westbrook Farm. Bayard built his own house on his part of the land.
Early Features of the Estate
In 1895, Bayard and his brother added a golf course to Westbrook. This was the first private golf course in the United States! It was designed by Willie Dunn. The course had nine holes and hosted a tournament called the Westbrook Cup for many years.
Later, in 1895, a fire destroyed many farm buildings. A famous architect named Stanford White was hired. He drew plans for a modern dairy farm called Westbrook Farms. It had many new and clever features for its time.
In 1899, a hunting lodge was built on the property. It was made only of cedar logs. The lodge had an earthen floor and a stone fireplace. It was designed to look like cabins used by early pioneers.
Passing of William Cutting
William Bayard Cutting passed away on March 1, 1912. He was 62 years old. His wife, Mrs. Olivia Cutting, inherited a lot of money from his estate.
The Mansion at Westbrook
The main house in the park is called Westbrook. It looks like an old English country house. It has a special style called Tudor.
The mansion has 60 rooms inside. You can see big oak furniture and beautiful stained-glass windows. There are also fireplaces that were brought from other countries. From the open lawn, you can enjoy views of the Connetquot River.
The Park's Amazing Plants
Designing the Gardens
William Bayard Cutting started working on his home's grounds in 1887. He got help from Frederick Law Olmsted. They wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the landscape.
Charles Sprague Sargent, who directed a famous garden in Boston, also helped. He advised Cutting on building a large collection of conifer trees. These are trees like pines and spruces. Cutting also worked with Ernest Henry Wilson. Wilson was sent by Harvard University to find tree samples in China.
Trees from Around the World
The first rhododendrons and trees for the arboretum came from England. This was in the early 1900s. Other trees in the park came from many different places. These included Europe, Spain, Greece, Japan, China, and Africa. You can find firs, spruces, pines, hemlocks, cedars, and yews there.
Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park Today
Becoming a Public Park
On June 18, 1936, William Cutting's daughter, Mrs. Bayard James, gave 200 acres of the estate to the public. She wanted it to be an arboretum. Her wish was for the park to be "an oasis of beauty and quiet." It was meant for people to enjoy nature and learn about plants.
The park officially opened to the public on May 15, 1954. To keep its peaceful purpose, some activities were not allowed. These included picnicking, swimming, horseback riding, and playgrounds. More parking was added later for visitors. Paths and trails were also made longer.
What You Can Do at the Park
Today, the park has many nature trails. Some popular ones are the Woodland Garden Walk and the River Walk. There are also walks focused on specific trees like pines and rhododendrons.
The park offers fun programs for visitors. You can also find a food shop and a gift shop at Westbrook.
Supporting the Park
The Bayard Cutting Arboretum Horticultural Society was started in 1974. This group helps support the Westbrook Manor. They sell items from "Granny's Attic" and host plant sales. Their efforts have helped pay for things like restoring the porch and windows of the mansion.
Nature's Challenges
The park has faced challenges from hurricanes. In 1954, Hurricane Carol destroyed over 70 trees. Even more damage happened in 1985 with Hurricane Gloria. This storm caused the loss of over 1,000 mature trees.
The Park Farm
In 2012, the Bayard Cutting Arboretum farm was created. It was the first farm of its kind in the New York State park system. The farm grows over 150 types of vegetables and berries. It also grows herbs and flowers. There are even 150 hens that provide eggs for the farm's members.
Visiting Hours
The park has different hours depending on the season. From November to March, it's open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From April to October, it's open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Images for kids
-
View of the Bayard Cutting Arboretum
