The College of William & Mary, the 2nd oldest college in America, is located on 1200 lovely acres in the heart of historic Williamsburg. The campus is as rich in beauty as it is in history with its brick sidewalks, presidential busts and statues, and lush Virginia landscaping. Despite its name, W&M is actually a university, and part of what makes it so special is its close association with our nation's founding fathers. The school's most notable alumni are presidents Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler and James Monroe. It's also worth nothing that George Washington received his surveyors license here. The campus provides tours for potential future alumni, but if you're just interested in exploring the historical elements of the school, consider the self-guided audio tour. It is neatly broken up into 3 segments: the historic campus, the old campus, and the new campus. Within those 3 segments are 13 total stops along the way. You can pick and choose which areas you'd like to visit. You'll most likely want to skip stop one on the list (the admission's building) and begin at number 2 – the Wren Building located at 111 Jamestown Rd. This is technically at the end of Duke of Gloucester Street, so plan to park in one of the lots around Merchant's Square. The Wren building is the oldest college building still in use in the United States today, and it truly is a sight to behold. Take your time exploring the grounds, then make your way inside. Locate the information desk, where you'll find a brochure with historical information about the building's history, as well as a helpful map. Once through the back doors, you'll immediately see a large grassy rectangle known as the Sunken Garden. On this very site in 1775, Patrick Henry established camp grounds for VA troops. It is today used for naps, tanning, lounging with a good book, studying, movie nights and weddings. On the other side of the Sunken Garden is the Crim Dell Bridge. You'll have to follow a wooded pathway to find it. If you have any trouble locating the path, just ask one of the many students passing by on their way to classes to point you in the right direction. The bridge is incredibly scenic and an ideal spot for taking photos, especially for couples. There are a number of superstitions, rumors, and traditions involving the bridge. It is said that a couple who crosses the bridge and kisses at the crest will be together forever. It's no wonder many proposals take place here! On your way out, and as you're heading back toward the Wren building, be sure to stop and pose with the famous Thomas Jefferson statue, lovingly named "Peeping Tom." I leave it to you to find out why. If you're interested in taking the self-guided audio tour, you can find the link here. Enjoy!
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The Williamsburg Tourist30-something, homeschooling mom and writer chronicles her family's adventures in and around Williamsburg, Virginia. Archives
June 2017
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