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The Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens is closed on Sunday, May 18. All other sites and tours will run as scheduled, including Free Sunday at the Museum of the Reconstruction Era.

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1106 Pickens Street

McMaster School

Designed by Columbia architect William Augustus Edwards of the firm of Edwards and Walter and built in 1911, McMaster School was a white-only grammar school that served students in the surrounding neighborhoods. It was named for Colonel F.W. McMaster, an advocate for better public schools and a mayor of Columbia. The University of South Carolina purchased the structure in 1960 and changed the name to McMaster College. Initially, it housed the music and art departments. In 2000, Historic Columbia awarded the University of South Carolina a historic preservation award for New Construction in a Historic Context for the structure's massive, architecturally sympathetic addition that extended the McMaster School building to the east. The building currently houses the School of Visual Art and Design.

  • 1106 Senate

    McMaster School, 2018. Historic Columbia collection

  • 1106 Senate

    McMaster School, 2018. Historic Columbia collection

34.00257, -81.025898

NTHP Preservation Award Winner
Historic Columbia

© 2025 Historic Columbia

Administrative Offices
1601 Richland Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Tours
All historic house and garden tours start at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills.
1616 Blanding Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Questions? Call (803) 252-7742.

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