Crim Dell bridge

Crim Dell bridge is a curved wooden footbridge on the College of William & Mary campus that spans a small pond. It sits within a wooded area filled with American beech trees and dense forest, creating a secluded spot within the campus grounds.

The current bridge was built in 1966 to replace an earlier simple wooden structure. Funding came from multiple sources including the family of alumnus John W. H. Crim, for whom the bridge is named.

Students practice a graduation tradition that involves swimming in the pond beneath the bridge as part of their final year rituals. This custom has become central to campus life and connects generations of students through shared experience.

The bridge connects two sections of the campus and provides a walking route through the wooded area near the center of grounds. Access is straightforward and the structure is well maintained for regular foot traffic throughout the year.

A previously unknown bacterial strain was discovered in soil samples from the pond beneath the bridge in 2009 and named after this location. This scientific find brought unexpected recognition to the site beyond the campus community.