When South Carolina College opened its doors in 1805, the building now known as Rutledge
College was the only building on campus. Located one block southeast of the State Capitol,
it served as an administrative office, academic building, residence hall, and chapel.
However, the master plan for the original campus called for a total of eleven buildings,
all facing a large lush gathering area. In 1807, the original President's House was
the next building to be erected. The building now known as DeSaussure College
followed shortly thereafter, and the remaining eight buildings were constructed
over the next several decades. When completed, all eleven buildings formed a U-shape
open to Sumter Street. This modified quadrangle is known as the Horseshoe.
The Horseshoe is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and most of its
buildings reflect the federal style of architecture in vogue in the early days of the
nation. Among them is the Caroliniana Library, which was designed by Robert Mills and
is the first freestanding academic library in the United States.
Over the years the eleven original buildings on the Horseshoe survived a fire, an earthquake,
and the Civil War, but in 1940 McKissick Museum replaced the original President's House.
The President's House would eventually return to the Horseshoe after extensive remodeling
of one of its original buildings, which was dedicated as such in 1952.
During the 20th century, the campus began to spread out dramatically from the Horseshoe.
Today it includes the student union, 21 residence halls, numerous academic buildings,
Longstreet Theatre, the Koger Center for the Arts, the Carolina Coliseum, the Colonial
Life Arena, Carolina Stadium, and various facilities for Olympic sports.
(Williams-Brice Stadium is located approximately one mile off campus.)
Recent additions to the campus are the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, the
Greek Village, the Green Quad, the Public Health Research Center, the Inn at USC, the
Colonial Life Arena and Carolina Stadium.