LTSS

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The 2011-2012 school year marks the 100^th anniversary of the opening of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary's (LTSS) campus in Columbia, S.C.  The seminary will celebrate the anniversary at its opening worship service for the academic year on Thursday, September 1, 2011 beginning at 7:00 PM in the seminary's Christ Chapel.  

LTSS was founded in 1830 and was originally located in the rural town of Pomaria, S.C.  After nearly a century of moves around the state, and even a brief move to Virginia, the school officials began to look for a permanent home for the seminary at the turn of the century.  

The city of Columbia actively recruited the school and offered it property on the highest point of land in the city.  Because of the valuable offer from the city and its central location for Lutheranism in the American South, the seminary's leaders chose Columbia as its new home.  

After setting the cornerstone in January of 1911, a three-story, 28,080 square foot granite building was erected in just a few months so that classes could begin in Columbia for the Fall term.  The building served as classroom, chapel, dormitory, library, and faculty office space for about 20 students and four faculty members.   

Today the same building, now known as Beam Hall, remains the centerpiece of the seminary's campus at 4201 North Main Street.  Surrounded by seven additional buildings as well as modern student apartments and housing, the LTSS campus currently serves as an interactive learning community for 145 students and 15 faculty.