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Old Courthouse National Historic Site

DESCRIPTION: The Old Courthouse has been the scene of many important events in St. Louis and national history. It is best known as the place the Dred Scott slavery trials began. The building was constructed in 1859 from a design by William Rumbold. The cast and wrought iron dome and a larger iron dome designed by Thomas Walter and built about the same time in Washington D.C. were the first of their kind in the U. S. Today the Old Courthouse is a museum documenting the history of the St. Louis area.

LOCATION: Downtown St. Louis

PHONE: 314-655-1600

WEB SITE: www.nps.gov/jeff and/or www.gatewayarch.com/main.html and click on the Old Courthouse icon.

METROLINK: Take MetroLink to the Busch Stadium station. Walk from the station to Walnut Street on the north side of Busch Stadium. Take Walnut east one block to Broadway and follow Broadway to the Old Courthouse.

HOURS: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

ADMISSION: Free

WHAT'S NEARBY: Busch Stadium, the Gateway Arch, the Old Cathedral, the Eugene Field House & St. Louis Toy Museum, the historic Laclede's Landing entertainment district, the Edward Jones Dome and the America's Center convention complex.

WHAT'S NEW: From time to time the old Courthouse features traveling exhibits. Call for current information.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Two historic courtrooms on the second floor have been restored using original and reproduction furniture. They are used to stage mock trials where visitors re-enact some of the historic events which occurred in the courthouse, including the Dred Scott trial.
  • The Rotunda was the center of the Old Courthouse and the hub of activity during its early years. Here great orators debated issues of the day as citizens filled the balconies.
  • The theatre features a film entitled Gateway to the West which traces the history of St. Louis from its origin as a fur trading post to the center of commerce it is today.
  • Dioramas built in 1940 by Works Progress Administration (WPA) artists illustrate significant events in the settlement of the St. Louis area.
  • Four rooms document the history of the St. Louis area with artifacts from the era and large photographs. Here you get a vivid picture of what life was like during the early days of St. Louis.
  • An unusual iron stairway spirals from the basement to the third floor.

WHAT'S COOL: The National Park Service often conducts mock trials at the Old Courthouse with visitors from the audience playing key roles in the re-enactment.

ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS: Many special events are held at the Old Courthouse throughout the year including:

  • Programs commemorating Flag Day and Constitution Day.
  • Special events for Black History Month and Women's History Month.
  • Day-long events on the Fourth of July.
  • Victorian Christmas decorations and displays on Chanukah and Kwanza during the month of December.

HISTORY: The Courthouse was the home of the civil courts of St. Louis County from 1828 to 1876. When the county separated from the city, the city courts remained in the building until 1930 when the building was abandoned and remained empty for 10 years. Descendents of the Chouteau family, one of St. Louis' founding families, which had donated the property to the city for use as a courthouse "forever" sued to reclaim the property after the courts moved out. They lost. The National Park Service acquired the property in 1940, renovated the building and now uses it for offices and as a museum on the history of the region. While the Courthouse is best known as the scene of the Dred Scott trial during which Scott and his wife Harriett sued for their freedom, other significant trials also took place here including that of Suffragist Virginal Minor who in 1872 unsuccessfully sued for the right to vote. And long before Rosa Parks boarded the bus in Birmingham, Mrs. Caroline Williams, an African-American attempted to board a horse-drawn streetcar in St. Louis. The conductor pushed Mrs. Williams, who was pregnant, onto the pavement. She and her husband sued the company. Although the jury found in their favor, the Williamses were awarded a token sum of one cent in damages.

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY: The first floor is accessible from the Broadway (west) side and portable ramps are available for access into the first floor galleries. The first floor rest rooms, an interactive kiosk and video programs are also accessible. The film "Gateway to the West" is open captioned and audio enhancement devices are available for ranger-led programs.

GIFT SHOP: The Courthouse gift shop has a wide selection of books, tapes, posters and other items relating to St. Louis history.

PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Rick Ziino, 314-655-1600

 

Readers should call 1-800-916-0040 to request a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitor Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis at www.explorestlouis.com