The Old Courthouse is in line for a $24.5 million restoration/NPS file

The National Park Service and  Gateway Arch Park Foundation are one step closer  to launching a $24.5 million  renovation  of  the Old Courthouse at Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis.

 In recent days, the Park Service chose  St. Louis-based Tarlton Corporation  to lead the renovation, which  focuses on increasing  accessibility  for all visitors,  structural improvements to the historic building , and new exhibitory. This renovation  is a contributing project to  the  City Arch River  project, the largest public-private partnership in the history of the National Park Service.   

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 their freedom, beginning in 1846, and where the case’s lower court trials were heard in 1847 and 1850. 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.   

“We are honored to preserve and protect  the Old Courthouse and the many stories told within its walls – from Dred and Harriet Scott and hundreds of other enslaved people suing for their freedom, to Virginia Minor’s fight for a woman’s right to vote,” said  Gateway Arch Superintendent Jeremy Sweat. “These renovations will maintain the Old Courthouse’s historical integrity and safeguard its lasting legacy.”   

This is 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 are the final component of the $380 million  City Arch River 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. This project is jointly funded by the National Park Service and Gateway Arch Park Foundation. Private funding has been provided through Gateway Arch Park Foundation by generous donors to the  City Arch River  capital campaign.    

The renovations include the installation of an elevator for greater accessibility within the building, in conjunction with accessible ramps that were previously installed at both entrances to the building during phase one of the  City Arch River  Old Courthouse renovations. Critical building system updates, which will help revitalize and maintain the building’s integrity, include a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system; a new fire suppression system; and general restoration and improvements to the building’s historically significant features such as windows, doors, ceilings, flooring and other decorative elements.   

“As the philanthropic partner of Gateway Arch National Park, our mission is to ensure this national park site remains vibrant and welcoming for generations to come – and these renovations to the Old Courthouse will certainly accomplish that,” said  Gateway Arch Park Foundation Executive Director Ryan McClure. “We are committed to creating a modern, accessible and inclusive Old Courthouse experience that demonstrates how important this building is to the story of America, and how our collective past can inform our future."

During the renovation, artifacts from the Old Courthouse will be carefully moved and stored, along with the park’s archives and library, at the Old Post Office in Downtown St. Louis. Hours of operation for researchers and students, as well as public to access the library to see artifacts on temporary display, will be announced once the move is completed.   

An official groundbreaking ceremony will take place before renovations begin. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.   

New Museun Exhibit Galleries

Future Old Courthouse visitors will enjoy new and updated exhibit galleries designed by Haley Sharpe Design in conjunction with Gateway Arch National Park staff. Exhibits will include:    

• Northeast Gallery: Dred and Harriet Scott –  Focuses on the Scotts’ 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, artists, 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.