About

The Old Courthouse, St. Louis, MO

A site of major historical and architectural significance, The Old Courthouse has been one of St. Louis's most prominent landmarks for over 150 years. Perhaps best known as the place the Dred Scott Trials began in 1847, it was also the site where Virginia Minor's case for a woman's right to vote came to trial in the 1870s. The Old Courthouse's magnificent cast and wrought iron dome is one of the first of its kind in the country.  Two historic courtrooms filled with original or reproduction furniture are used to stage reenactments of famous trials held at the courthouse.

JNPA support helps sustain these and other educational elements for Old Courthouse visitors, including the film Gateway to the West, shown in the on-site theater, as well as four rooms of artifacts and photos documenting life during the early days of St. Louis.

For more information and details for planning your visit see the official National Park Service website of the Old Courthouse part of Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.