Timeline
Founded in 1770, the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is the oldest educational institution south of Virginia, and the 13th oldest in the United States.
The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has so much history - from its charter on March 19, 1785, to its 250th anniversary celebration in 2020. Explore the timeline to see the many milestones of our storied university.
Randolph Hall is the College’s main academic building.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø becomes the first municipal college in the United States.
Construction begins on the first campus library (now known as Towell Library).
The Cistern is constructed as a reservoir to provide water for fighting fires in the days before the city installed a water system. It was later filled in and covered with grass. Today a stage is built over the Cistern to seat the graduating class for May Commencement.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is under siege during the Civil War. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø closes.
President Harrison Randolph introduces the bachelor of science degree.
Pierrine St. Claire Smith Byrd becomes the first female graduate.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø admits its first black students.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is incorporated into the S.C. State College System.
Robert Scott Small Library opens (holding capacity of 500,000 volumes). Eddie Ganaway is the first African American to graduate from the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
The College completes the Grice Marine Laboratory on James Island; the laboratory serves as the center for the marine biology curriculum.
The Simons Center for the Arts, home to the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and the School of the Arts, opens.
The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture opens.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is one of six colleges chosen to serve as a space research facility and partner with NASA.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø formally establishes the Graduate School of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
The College opens two new facilities: the Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library, with a holding capacity of 1 million volumes, and the Beatty Center, home to the School of Business and Economics.
The College opens two new residence halls, the George Street Apartment Community and the Liberty Street Residence Hall. The complex also contains the Liberty Street Fresh Food Company dining hall.
The Carolina First Arena, home to men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, opens.
The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art opens in its new location on the first floor of The Marion and Wayland H. Cato Jr. Center for the Arts.
The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø celebrates its 250th anniversary.