The renovations are part of the final component of the $380-million CityArchRiver project, which has resulted in the revitalization of the Gateway Arch park grounds, Arch Visitor Center, Museum at the Gateway Arch, St. Louis Riverfront, Luther Ely Smith Square and Kiener Plaza. The CityArchRiver project is the largest public-private partnership in the history of the National Park Service.

A project jointly funded by the National Park Service and Gateway Arch Park Foundation, this will be only the second significant renovation to the Old Courthouse since it was built between 1839 and 1862 (the original building was expanded during this time). The renovations include:

• Installation of an elevator for greater accessibility within the building, in conjunction with new accessible ramps that were previously installed at both entrances to the building during phase one of the CityArchRiver courthouse renovations
• Structural updates, which will help revitalize and maintain the building’s integrity, include a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
• Renovated ceilings and flooring
• New fire suppression system
• General restoration and improvements.

Improvements also include new and updated exhibit galleries are designed by Haley Sharpe Design in conjunction with Gateway Arch National Park staff:

• Northeast Gallery: Dred and Harriet Scott – Focuses on the family’s fight for freedom, which began in the Old Courthouse, and how the legal and political environment at the time culminated in the infamous U.S. Supreme Court Decision. The exhibit gallery also reflects on the legacy and relevancy of their case today.
• Northwest Gallery: Pathways to Freedom – Explores African American life in St. Louis: slavery, the tortured legacy of enslaved individuals seeking freedom, post-Civil War civil rights and more.
• Southeast Gallery: Designed for Justice – Highlights the architectural features of the courthouse and the spirit of innovation of architects, designers, builders and craftsmen.
• Southwest Gallery: See You in Court – Focuses on the importance of courts in our society, our legal structure, and the daily activities in the courthouse from 1839 to 1930. Visitors will be able to experience an 1850s courtroom and re-enact mock trials that will further their understanding of how our court system allows us to settle disputes peacefully and provide a framework for how our society functions.

OLD COURTHOUSE HISTORY

The Old Courthouse has served as the backdrop for some of America’s pivotal early legal cases: It was where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for freedom, beginning in 1846, and where the case’s lower court trials were heard in 1847 and 1850. While the Scotts’ case looms large in the history of the Old Courthouse, St. Louis Circuit Court records show that more than 300 other “freedom suits” were filed there by 1860. In another famous civil rights case, Virginia Minor sued for her, and by extension all women’s, right to vote in the 1870s.

The post Changes are Coming to the Old Courthouse! appeared first on Gateway Arch.

According to the National Park Service: On April 6th, 1846, Dred Scott and his wife Harriet filed suit against owner Irene Emerson for their freedom. For almost nine years, Scott had lived in free territories, yet made no attempt to end his servitude. It is not known for sure why he chose this particular time for the suit, although historians have considered three possibilities: He may have been dissatisfied with being hired out; Mrs. Emerson might have been planning to sell him; or he may have offered to buy his own freedom and been refused.

It is known that the suit was not brought for political reasons. It is thought that friends in St. Louis who opposed slavery had encouraged Scott to sue for his freedom on the grounds that he had once lived in a free territory. In the past, Missouri courts supported the doctrine of “once free, always free.” Dred Scott could not read or write and had no money. He needed help with his suit. John Anderson, the Scotts’ minister, may have been influential in their decision to sue, and the Blow family, Dred’s original owners, backed him financially. The support of such friends helped the Scotts through nearly eleven years of complex and often disappointing litigation.

In 1850, Dred and Harriet were granted their freedom by the Circuit Court of St. Louis County. After many appeals, however, the case was decided upon by the Supreme Court on March 6, 1857. The decision stated that slaves were property, and as such, had no right to sue. This decision hastened the start of the Civil War.

Today, the National Park Service hosts programming and mock trials to educate the public on the significance of the Dred Scott Decision and how it changed the course of history.

DRED & HARRIET SCOTT VIDEO RE-ENACTMENT

Click here to watch a short video that re-enacts a hypothetical conversation in which Dred and Harriet Scott discus the risks to their family if they sue their enslaver for their freedom at the Old Courthouse…and those they face if they don’t.

The post The Scotts’ Suit for Freedom appeared first on Gateway Arch.

1) Riding in a retro elevator. The Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch is the only one of its kind in the entire world.  Each tram car, or “pod,” holds five passengers and rotates approximately 155 degrees during the four-minute ride to the top – ensuring that the passengers remain upright as the Arch curves.

2) Marveling in one-of-a-kind architecture. When you visit the grounds, take a moment to stand directly underneath the Arch and look up at all 630 feet of it – it’s a vantage point you won’t soon forget. Clad in stainless steel and built in the form of a weighted catenary curve, the Arch is the tallest manmade monument in the Western Hemisphere.

3) Walking from the North Leg to the South Leg. Can you believe the two legs are 630 feet apart – the same as the height of the Arch?

4) Walking the halls where ordinary Americans made civil rights history. Built in 1839, the Old Courthouse was home to two landmark cases that secure its place in history: the Dred Scott case on slavery and freedom and the Virginia Minor case on women’s right to vote.

5) Connecting a national park to an urban city center. For the first time in park and city history, the recently completed renovations to Gateway Arch National Park ensure easy access between the Mississippi River, the park and bustling downtown St. Louis. Visitors can also enjoy five miles of walking and biking trails within the park.

6) Exploring Westward expansion. Commonly referred to as the “Gateway to the West,” the Gateway Arch was built to honor President Thomas Jefferson and his vision for the United States. In the brand-new Museum at the Gateway Arch, learn about Jefferson’s vision, manifest destiny, colonial St. Louis and more.

7) Cruising through time on the Mighty Mississippi. Opening for the season on March 2, the replica 19^th century paddle-wheel Riverboats at the Gateway Arch offer stunning skyline views that have been voted Best in St. Louis. With a variety of outings to choose from, including sightseeing, dinner, brunch and holiday cruises, a riverboat cruise makes a unique and relaxing way to experience the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis.

*Photo credit: National Park Service

The post 7 Experiences You Can Only Have at Gateway Arch National Park appeared first on Gateway Arch.