Best Place for Fresh Air: The Horseshoe

If you know anything about the University of South Carolina, you’ve definitely heard about the Horseshoe. On any given day, you can expect to see students enjoying the fresh air and the beautiful scenery. It is the perfect place to have a picnic or study session with friends, no matter the time of year. If you own a hammock, there are plenty of trees to hang around in. Another plus: there are always dogs!

Officially on the National Register of Historic Places, the Horseshoe is filled with history. Existing over two centuries; withstanding fires, earthquakes, and the Civil War; and even being visited by President William Howard Taft and Pope John Paul II, a simple walk around the U could teach you more than a history class. Also, in the very center of the Horseshoe stands the Maxcy Monument, which commemorates the first president of the college and was designed by the same architect who worked on the Washington Monument in D.C.

The Horseshoe also includes the South Caroliniana Library, which was originally constructed in 1840 and is the oldest freestanding academic library in the whole country. It served as the university’s main library for over 100 years, way before T-Coop was built! The historic McCutchen House, completely managed as a “hands-on classroom” by students of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism is a great spot to check out for lunch or a private event as well. The historic Rutledge Chapel is even available to be booked for special events like weddings with a capacity of 200. How cool would it be to get married on the Horseshoe!?

Whether you need a nice place to study, take a walk, or want to learn a little bit about the history of South Carolina and the university, the Horseshoe is a great place to visit. Just be careful not to trip on the bricks!