Old Courthouse, Saint Louis (must see)

Now part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Old Courthouse sits on land originally donated in 1816 by Saint Louis founder Auguste Chouteau. His stipulation was that the land be “used forever as the site on which the courthouse of the County of Saint Louis should be erected.”

Built as a combined federal and state courthouse, the original Federal-style building was completed in 1828, designed by the same firm, Lavielle and Morton, that created the Old Cathedral. It was extensively rebuilt between 1839 and 1862, with its cupola replaced by an Italian Renaissance cast-iron dome modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

The interiors of the Old Courthouse are adorned with elegant plasterwork, ornate wood carvings, and richly detailed moldings, while sweeping spiral staircases connect the floors with graceful curves. Period paintings, decorative columns, and intricately designed balustrades complete the refined atmosphere.

Over the years, the Old Courthouse has held many titles: Missouri’s tallest habitable building from 1864 to 1894, the tallest building in Missouri and Saint Louis until 1896, when Union Station was built, and the largest structure within the monument area (created in 1940) until the Gateway Arch was erected in 1965. Today, the courthouse sits directly beneath the Arch, marking the spot over which the monument soars.

The courthouse also played a pivotal role in American history. In 1857, Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom here, followed by more than 300 other enslaved African Americans over the years. In 1875, women’s suffrage activist Virginia Minor fought for her right to vote in this building, and the last slave auction at the courthouse took place in 1861.

Tip:
Visit the courtroom where the first Dred Scott decision was rendered, then climb the stairs to the top for panoramic views of the Gateway Arch and downtown Saint Louis.