USC Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near USC (University of Southern California)
Why Walk USC Campus
The University of Southern California's campus occupies 226 acres just south of downtown Los Angeles, a dense urban campus that creates a distinct collegiate enclave against the backdrop of the LA skyline. Founded in 1880 — making it the oldest private research university in Southern California — USC's architectural character is defined by red-brick Romanesque Revival buildings from the early twentieth century mixed with sleek contemporary additions. The historic core centers on Bovard Administration Building (1921), whose clock tower and red-brick facade set the campus's visual tone, and Doheny Memorial Library (1932), an Italian Romanesque gem with marble interiors and an ornate reading room. Tommy Trojan, the bronze warrior statue unveiled in 1930, stands at the campus crossroads and has become USC's most recognizable symbol — during rivalry week before the UCLA game, it is covered in protective material to prevent pranks. The School of Cinematic Arts, housed in a sprawling complex partly funded by a $175 million gift from George Lucas, includes state-of-the-art soundstages, screening rooms, and production facilities that have trained more Oscar winners than any other institution. The campus is remarkably flat and compact, walkable end to end in about thirty minutes, with wide palm-lined boulevards connecting its major buildings. USC Village, a $700 million mixed-use development completed in 2017, added retail, dining, and residential spaces along Jefferson Boulevard.
About USC
Founded
1880
Type
Private nonprofit research university
Setting
Urban. The University Park campus sits in the University Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles, about 3 miles southwest of Downtown LA. The Health Sciences Campus is roughly 7 miles northeast, near Boyle Heights/Lincoln Heights.
Enrollment
Around 49,000 total students, split roughly 21,000 undergraduate and 28,000 graduate/professional.
Mascot
Tommy Trojan (the costumed mascot) and Traveler, a live white horse ridden at home football games. Athletic teams are the Trojans.
Free USC Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free USC campus tour with audio narration. Explore Tommy Trojan, School of Cinematic Arts, Doheny Memorial Library, plus hidden spots like Mudd Hall of Philosophy and The Village, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Spots at USC
- •Tommy Trojan — Officially named 'The Trojan Shrine,' this bronze statue of a Trojan warrior was sculpted by Roger Noble Burnham and unveiled in 1930 at the center of campus. Standing on a base inscribed with the five virtues of the ideal Trojan
- •School of Cinematic Arts — Founded in 1929 in collaboration with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, USC's film school is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the world. The current complex, funded in part by a $175 million gift from George Lucas (Class of 1966), includes the George Lucas Building with its Beaux-Arts-inspired cupola, multiple soundstages, state-of-the-art screening rooms, and the Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts. Alumni include George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, John Singleton, and Shonda Rhimes.
- •Doheny Memorial Library — Completed in 1932 and designed by Ralph Adams Cram and Samuel Yellin in Italian Romanesque style, this library was built as a memorial to Edward L. Doheny Jr. Its exterior features arched windows, carved stone details, and terra-cotta ornament, while the interior boasts marble walls, bronze fixtures, and a grand central hall with a coffered ceiling and ornate chandeliers. The reading rooms retain their original 1930s character with heavy oak tables and hand-painted ceiling beams.
- •Bovard Administration Building — Completed in 1921 and designed by John Parkinson (who also designed LA City Hall and Union Station), Bovard is USC's architectural signature
Signature Architecture
- •Doheny Memorial Library — Opened 1932, designed by Samuel Lunden with Paul Philippe Cret as consulting architect; Italian Renaissance/Romanesque style. A central library funded by Estelle Doheny in memory of Edward L. Doheny Jr.
- •Bovard Administration Building — Completed 1921, Italian Romanesque design by John Parkinson. Houses Bovard Auditorium (about 1,200 seats); its facade carries sculpted figures of great thinkers and leaders.
- •Tommy Trojan (Trojan Shrine) — Bronze statue cast in 1930 by Roger Noble Burnham, modeled on an idealized Trojan warrior. Sits at the center of campus and is guarded by students before the annual UCLA game.
- •USC Village — Opened 2017, a roughly 1.25-million-square-foot Collegiate Gothic residential and retail complex north of the historic core, with a bronze statue of Hecuba at its central plaza.
- •Mudd Hall of Philosophy — Built 1929 in Italian Romanesque style, notable for its bell tower and cloister. Home to the School of Philosophy and the Hoose Library of Philosophy.
Hidden Corners of USC
- •Mudd Hall of Philosophy — Completed in 1929 in Romanesque Revival style, this quiet building houses the School of Philosophy and features a hidden garden courtyard with a central fountain, climbing vines, and mature trees. The courtyard, accessed through an arched passageway, is one of the most peaceful and least-visited spots on campus — a stark contrast to the bustling areas around Tommy Trojan just a few hundred feet away. Its interior corridors are lined with philosophical inscriptions carved into the stone walls.
- •The Village — USC Village, a $700 million mixed-use development completed in 2017, transformed the campus's northern edge along Jefferson Boulevard. Anchored by a Trader Joe's and Target, the complex includes restaurants, retail shops, student housing for 2,500 residents, and a new Student Health Center — all built in a Mediterranean Revival style with red-tile roofs to harmonize with the historic campus. The central courtyard features outdoor dining and a large LED screen for game-day watch parties.
Notable Alumni
- •Neil Armstrong (M.S. aerospace engineering, 1970; first person to walk on the Moon)
- •George Lucas (film school graduate; director of Star Wars)
- •Will Ferrell (sports information/broadcast journalism)
- •John Wayne (attended on a football scholarship in the 1920s)
- •Marc Benioff (founder and CEO of Salesforce)
- •Allyson Felix (track and field; multiple Olympic gold medalist)
Campus Traditions
- •Conquest rally before the annual UCLA football game, held at Bovard Auditorium, where Traveler appears and students celebrate the crosstown rivalry.
- •Guarding Tommy Trojan: during the week before the UCLA game, students wrap the statue in duct tape and stand watch around the clock to protect it from rival vandalism.
- •The Spirit of Troy marching band plays 'Conquest' and 'Fight On'; the two-finger 'Fight On' salute is used as a greeting and rally sign.
- •Avoiding the bronze university seal set in Hahn Plaza, which students believe will jinx graduating on time if you step on it.
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •The Lab Gastropub and other dining at USC Village's retail level, plus Cava and a Trader Joe's for groceries.
- •Dulan's Soul Food and other South LA spots along Figueroa Street near campus.
- •Chano's Drive-In on Figueroa, a longtime taco and burrito stand popular with students.
- •On-campus dining halls such as Everybody's Kitchen (EVK) and Parkside for students on meal plans.
Did you know? USC's School of Cinematic Arts is famously tied to Hollywood, and the university counts Neil Armstrong among its graduates, making it the alma mater of the first person to walk on the Moon. Across the street sits Exposition Park, home to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which hosted the 1932 and 1984 Olympics and will host events in 2028.
Visiting USC
The USC Office of Admission offers free guided campus walking tours and information sessions on most weekdays; reserve in advance through admission.usc.edu, as walk-up space is limited. Self-guided visitors enter the University Park campus through staffed gates (photo ID may be requested) and can pick up a map at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. Paid visitor parking is available in campus structures, typically around $12-20 per day. The campus is served by the Metro E (Expo) Line at the Expo Park/USC station.
Walking Tip
The campus is compact and flat — walkable in under an hour. Enter from the Exposition Boulevard side to see Bovard and Doheny first. The Natural History Museum is adjacent and worth combining.
Best Time to Visit
Year-round sunshine. Football Saturdays in fall transform the campus. Summer is quiet and the best time for an unhurried walk.
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