Worth a DetourSight · MuseumFreeRainy Day

Old Courthouse

The domed courthouse where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom, a case that helped bring on the Civil War.

Official Website
Photo: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA · CC BY 2.0
Open
Most days; check the website
Price
Free
Time Needed
45 minutes
Address
11 N 4th St, St. Louis, MO 63102Google MapsApple Maps
Getting There
Facing the Gateway Arch.

Why Go

The Scotts won their case here in 1850, but the Supreme Court overturned it in 1857, ruling that Black Americans could not be citizens. Part of Gateway Arch National Park, the courthouse reopened in 2025 after a renovation, with new exhibits.

Nearby

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