Westbrook, Suffolk County, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Westbrook, Suffolk County,
within Bayard-Cutting Arboretum |
|
Westbrook, March 2010
|
|
 Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Great River, New York |
|---|---|
| Architect | Charles Haight |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001271 |
| Added to NRHP | October 2, 1973 |
Westbrook is a large, beautiful house with many unique roofs and tall chimneys. It sits on the South Shore of Long Island, right next to the Connetquot River.
This amazing estate has been recognized as a national historic district since 1973. This means it's a special place that is protected because of its history and importance.
Contents
Discovering the Westbrook House
Westbrook was built in 1886 for a man named William Bayard Cutting. He was a very important person in New York. The house was designed by an architect named Charles C. Haight. He built it in the Tudor Revival style. This style looks like old English houses from the Tudor period, with lots of timber and brick.
William Bayard Cutting bought the land for Westbrook in 1884. He wanted to create a grand home there.
Unique Features of Westbrook
To make the gatehouse look truly special, real Scottish heather was brought over. This heather was used to make a thatched roof, which is a roof made of dried plants. You can still see this gatehouse today at the corner of Montauk Highway and Great River Road.
In 1895, William Bayard Cutting and his brother created a golf course at Westbrook. This was very special because it was the first private golf course ever built in the United States!
Westbrook Becomes a Public Park
Today, the Westbrook house and its huge, beautiful gardens are open to everyone. It is now a state park called the Bayard-Cutting Arboretum.
William Bayard Cutting's wife and daughter gave the estate to the people of Long Island. They wanted it to be "an oasis of beauty and quiet." They hoped it would be a place where people could enjoy nature, relax, and learn to appreciate the beauty of plants.
An early helper at the Bayard-Cutting Arboretum was Lady Lindsay. She was a good friend of the Cutting family. Lady Lindsay was also a professional landscape architect. This means she was trained to design beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces. She even worked for a famous American gardener named Beatrix Farrand. Beatrix Farrand also worked on the gardens at Westbrook when she was starting her career.
Fun Things to Do at Westbrook
Westbrook is a great place to visit! You can find a restaurant there if you get hungry. There's also a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs.
If you love nature, you can explore the many nature trails. These trails let you walk through the beautiful gardens and enjoy the outdoors. The park also offers different fun programs and activities for visitors.
Westbrook on the Big Screen
Westbrook is so beautiful that it has even been used in movies!
- In 1993, a movie called The Age of Innocence was filmed there. This movie was directed by Martin Scorsese. It starred famous actors like Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Joanne Woodward. The movie was based on a book by Edith Wharton. The scenes where characters played archery and had a big lawn party were filmed at Westbrook.
