February 3, 1888

Now a romantic set of sandstone arches over the lake, Varsity Bridge has gone through several transformations over the course of CU’s history. An early version was a rough wooden bridge that connected the President’s House (now the Koenig Alumni Center) and Old Main. In August of 1888, university Regents authorized the construction of a new bridge made of iron and stone supports.

In 1935, university leadership again reimagined the bridge, which was torn down and rebuilt with stone construction that matched the University of Colorado style. Today, the spot is a favorite for spotting sunbathing turtles or goldfish swimming in Varsity Lake. 

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Photo courtesy of Carnegie Library for Local History/Museum of Boulder Collection

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It's June on campus, which means wildlife abound. These resident turtles in Varsity Pond, however, can be seen most of the year on the west side of campus.  

Photo by Glenn Asakawa 

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Imagine the campus without Varsity Lake — just a deep, muddy ravine channeling snowmelt down the hill. In 1880 the Portfolio, the student newspaper of the day, speculated, “We shall see at some time in the future a beautiful lake on the campus. One can be constructed at a very small expense as nature has almost completed the work. Then what times the students will have.” In 1888 a dam was built and Varsity Lake was formed. Recently alumnus Joe Felice (A&S’72) wrote to the Coloradan editorial staff, “Nothing can match the beauty of Varsity Bridge and Lake. I used to love to just go there and let it touch my soul. I was always amazed at the solitude in the middle of such a large campus.”

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