USC Welcome
Carolina rolls out a red—no, make that garnet—carpet to welcome the arrival of students, particularly newcomers, for fall semester.
The 3,700 freshmen on campus get a hand settling into their residence halls on Move-In Day, then assemble two days later for the First Year Reading Experience. After that, it's several days of fun and sun before classes start. USC Welcome
Horseshoe
The Horseshoe is at the center of the University, joining past, present, and future. With a spot on the National Register of Historic Places and made up almost entirely of 19th century structures, the Horseshoe is full of tradition.
Those structures are still vibrant today, serving as a research library, a welcome center, a museum, a president's home, student housing, and administrative offices. Among those offices is Undergraduate Admissions, the gateway for Carolina's future students. Horseshoe
Campus
The scenic USC campus is filled with lush lawns, walking paths, and the historic buildings of the Horseshoe. As University development expands to supports its research initiatives, it will feature retro-style structures with special entrances, open areas for gatherings, and pathways to encourage pedestrian traffic. Campus
Carolina spirit
The fall colors arrive early every year in Columbia. By early September, garnet and black are the dominant colors as Gamecock fans prepare for another exciting football season. Carolina spirit
Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center
The Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center is a crown jewel of new campus development and the emphasis on healthy lifestyles. Opened in spring 2003, the 192,000-square-foot facility offers a variety of programs and amenities, including its signature feature, a 52-foot-high climbing wall.
The facility has been included in the 2005 Athletic Business Architectural Showcase, featured in Athletic Business magazine, and recognized as a facility of distinction by the National Intramural Recreation Sports Association. Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center
Spring at Carolina
Springtime at Carolina means an explosion of color: blooming azaleas, dogwoods, crab apple trees, and cherry trees. The Horseshoe and Gibbes Green area behind McKissick Museum are especially vibrant. Spring at Carolina
Columbia
"Redevelopment" is the buzzword in Columbia these days. The plans are grand, from the streetscaping of Main Street and Five Points, to a village-in-the-city concept that will reinvent the State Hospital campus on Bull Street, to extensive residential and commercial development along one of the city's defining feature, the Congaree River.
Columbia has been the state capital since 1786. The Columbia area, made up of Richland and Lexington counties, has a population of more than 575,000, according to U.S. census estimates for 2005. Columbia
Featured Photo
Three Rivers Greenway
The West Columbia Riverwalk on the west bank of the Congaree River is part of the Midlands' Three Rivers Greenway project. A series of connected paths for walking, running, and bike riding run along both sides of the Congaree.
In conjunction with the Innovista research and innovation district, the Greenway will be expanded to tie into a new riverfront city park, the Gamecocks’ new baseball stadium, and the University's Wellness and Fitness Center.