The Horseshoe

Building Description

The Horseshoe is a historic district located on the University of South Carolina campus. The name is derived from the fact that the original buildings in the district are positioned in a Horseshoe shape. The area comprises the center of student life on USC’s campus and includes residential, administrative, and historical buildings. Also called Old Campus District, the Horseshoe also features a museum, visitor’s center, library, and dining facilities. Over 10 major buildings can be considered part of the Horseshoe district. Notable structures include South Caroliniana Library, Elliott College, Pinckney College, Legare College, McCutcheon House, DeSaussure College, Rutledge College, President’s House, McKissick Museum, and Lieber College.

History

The Horseshoe has been the center of the University of South Carolina since the beginning of the school’s 200-year history. The oldest building on the University of South Carolina’s campus, Rutledge College, was completed in 1805 as the first building on the master-planned Horseshoe district. McKissick, which was built on the site of the former President’s House, sits at the head of the “horseshoe” and houses USC’s Visitor’s Center.

Although many of the buildings that comprise the Horseshoe have been either renovated or partially replaced, each structure has mostly retained their original architectural flavor. On June 1970, the Horseshoe (Old Campus District) was listed in the National Register of Historical Places.