Westbrook which is now named the "Bayard Cutting Arboretum", was donated to the Long Island State Park Region by Mrs. William Bayard Cutting and her daughter, Mrs. Olivia James, in memory of William Bayard Cutting, " to provide an oasis of beauty and quiet for the pleasure, rest and refreshment of those who delight in outdoor beauty; and to bring about a greater appreciation and understanding of the value and importance of informal planting." Utilizing plans conceived by the noted landscape architectural firm of Frederick Law Olmstead, the arboretum development was begun in 1887. The site was originally wooded and many of the large oaks now seen were retained during the clearing of the land. With the cooperation of Charles Sprague Sergeant, then director of Boston's Arnold Arboretum, Mr. Cutting several years later began to plant his conifer collection in the area just north of the Carriage House. Located in the former Cutting residence are magnificent fireplaces, woodworkings, stained glass windows and a small natural history display. The manor house also contains a café with an open porch overlooking the Connetquot River, a gift shop and the administration office.
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