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Please note The Museum of the Reconstruction Era will be closed for house tours Wednesday, Feb. 1 - Friday, Feb. 3 due to garden renovations.

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1030 Assembly Street

Site of USO Club

The United Services Organization (USO) maintained separate facilities for black and white personnel during World War II. In 1942, it established its main building for white servicemen overlooking Seaboard Park. Deemed "new and swanky" by The State newspaper, this landmark provided "wholesome entertainment" and "offered a two-mile view of the city to the 5,000 guests it entertained each day." The club was demolished in 1966 for construction of the city's current United States Post Office.

  • USO postcard

    Colorized postcard depicting USO, circa 1945. Historic Columbia collection

  • USO John Hensel

    Federal Recreation Building, USO, circa 1950. Image courtesy John Hensel Photograph Collection, South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia

  • Evelyn Brunson Tracey

    Photographed in 1943, Evelyn Brunson Tracey relaxes on the USO building's balcony, which overlooked Seaboard Park. In the background loom other city landmarks including St. Peter's Catholic Church, the Wade Hampton Hotel and the Palmetto and Barringer buildings. Historic Columbia collection

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Historic Columbia

© 2023 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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