Our History

2025

Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking Phase II

Groundbreaking for Cottingham Campus Phase II expansion on May 9, 2025. Click here to see photos from the event.

2024

kickoff

Phase II Kick Off

Cottingham Campus Phase II kicks off in June. Visit the Phase II website for more information.

2020

new facility

Cottingham Campus Opens

Cottingham Campus Phase I opens in March.

2019

Milestone

Celebrating 125 Years

Construction begins on Cottingham Campus. Foothills Area YMCA celebrates 125 years!

2018

Groundbreaking1

Groundbreaking Phase I

Groundbreaking for the new Cottingham Campus.

2015

Camp

Camp ONEOT

Final year of Camp Oneot at Clemson. Foothills Area YMCA closed Clemson Campus, The Barn.

1970 & 1990

Y Barn

The Barn

Foothills Area YMCA expands to The Barn in 1970 and consolidates all programs to The Barn in 1990.

1943 & 1961

50Years

Celebrating 50 Years

The Y celebrates 50 years in 1943, and expands programs to youth in 1961.

1915

holtzendorff

Holtzendorff

Holtzendorff Center is built with a grant from John D. Rockefeller and contributions from Clemson families.

1893 & 1894

ClemsonY

Foothills Area YMCA

Work began to establish Foothills Area YMCA at Clemson in 1893, and in 1894, Foothills Area YMCA charter was established.

Historical photo credits (Y Barn, Holtzendorff plaque, Holtzendorff building): Clemson University Libraries Digital Collections. To see more photos, click here to visit their website.