Work is set to begin next week on the final phase of the $380-million renovation of the Gateway Arch National Park and its surrounding areas.
A ceremonial groundbreaking took place Tuesday at the Old Courthouse to signal the commencement of the building’s $24.5-million renovation, only the second major upgrade to the structure since 1860.
The renovations are part of the CityArchRiver project, a massive public-private undertaking that began in 2013 to completely transform how visitors experience St. Louis’ most iconic symbol: the Gateway Arch.
The Old Courthouse is best known for serving as the backdrop for one of the county’s most consequential court cases in 1846 when Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom. The Scotts’ landmark case and eventual ruling is widely considered to have contributed to the already rising tensions between the North and South, ultimately leading to the Civil War.
St. Louis Circuit Court records show more than 300 “freedom suits” were also filed at the Old Courthouse in the 1860s. Another milestone civil rights case took place in the 1870s when Virginia Minor sued for her – and for women’s – right to vote.
Gateway Arch National Park Superintendent Jeremy Sweat says by preserving nationally significant buildings such as Little Rock Central High School, the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Old Courthouse, the National Park Service protects the physical memory of American history.
“When many Americans think of the National Park Service, they often think of large natural parks, such as Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains or the Grand Canyon. But the majority of the 424 units of the National Park System are historic sites, many of which tell some of our nation’s most important and complicated histories,” Sweat said. “That is why we are here at the Old Courthouse, to celebrate a major step forward for this building, which is a tangible reminder of the mistakes of our past, and of the progress that has been made in the fight for equality, freedom and justice for all Americans.”
Lynne Jackson, the great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, says her family has “waited for a very, very long time” to fully celebrate the legacy left behind by her ancestors.
“We celebrate the fact that we are remembering them in a big way, in a significant way, in a way that when people walk into this courthouse – like I did as a teenager – they won’t just see their small picture somewhere on a wall upstairs,” Jackson said. “Over the years, their story has come to light in a much more significant way. We’re getting to share a deeper part of their story… you see a truer story being told.”
A key part of the renovations includes the creation of all-new exhibit galleries that will focus on the Scotts’ fight for freedom and the relevance of their case today. Other galleries will explore the post-Civil War era of civil rights and African American life in St. Louis, as well as showcase the architectural features of the Old Courthouse and the importance of the courts in American society.
Structural updates, such as new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and ceiling and flooring renovations, are also in the works.
Once work is completed, the Old Courthouse “for the first time in its history, will be accessible to visitors of all abilities,” according to Gateway Arch Park Foundation executive director Ryan McClure.
Among the convenience upgrades are the conversion of a former conference room into an elevator and the installation of accessible ramps at both entrances.
The Old Courthouse will be closed to the public during renovation. Completion of the project is expected in early 2025.
