The Old Courthouse is the most important historic building in St. Louis and one of the most moving free sights in the city. Its green cast-iron dome rises over downtown at the western end of Gateway Arch National Park, framed perfectly by the curve of the Arch from the riverfront and, in the other direction, the classic photo of the Arch rising behind it. Built in stages during the mid-19th century, it was the busiest courthouse in the West when St. Louis was the jumping-off point for the frontier. It is best known as the place where Dred Scott and his wife Harriet, enslaved people, filed their suits for freedom in the 1840s. Their case went on to the U.S. Supreme Court, whose 1857 ruling against them helped push the nation toward the Civil War. The courthouse also saw Virginia Minor’s fight for women’s right to vote, and enslaved people were once sold on its steps. Today the building is part of the national park, with remodeled courtrooms and four exhibit galleries that tell these stories and the wider history of the city. Entry is free, and this page links to the park’s official hours page.
How to visit: the Old Courthouse stands on Broadway between Chestnut and Market streets, facing the Arch across Luther Ely Smith Square and the park grounds, a five-minute walk from the Arch visitor center. It is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00, and like the rest of the park it is expected to close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, so check the park page around the holidays. There is no ticket and no charge.
What to expect: the visit is self-guided, with rangers on hand to answer questions. The restored courtrooms show how justice looked in the 19th century, while the galleries cover the Dred and Harriet Scott case, Virginia Minor and the growth of St. Louis as a frontier city. Look up inside the rotunda at the painted dome. Allow about an hour.
Making the most of it: pair it with the Gateway Arch tram on the same morning, visiting the courthouse while you wait for your tram time or straight afterwards. For photographers, the best views of the Arch rising behind the dome are from the west side of the building along Market Street and from the steps of Kiener Plaza.
What to expect
The experience
A free, self-guided visit to restored 19th-century courtrooms and four exhibit galleries under a painted dome.
Best time
Morning, combined with an Arch tram ticket, before the school groups arrive.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Take the classic photo of the Arch behind the dome from Market Street, and check holiday closures around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History lovers and first-timers who want the human story behind the Arch and the city.
- Families
- Older children connect with the courtroom setting and the Dred and Harriet Scott story.
- Couples
- A quiet hour indoors between the Arch and lunch downtown.
- Pair with
- The Gateway Arch tram and the free Museum at the Gateway Arch.
- Time needed
- One hour.
Good questions
Is the Old Courthouse open in November 2026?+
Yes, it opens every day from 9:00 to 17:00. Like the rest of Gateway Arch National Park, expect it to close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Is the Old Courthouse free?+
Yes, entry is free and no ticket is needed. It is part of Gateway Arch National Park.
Why is the Old Courthouse famous?+
Dred and Harriet Scott filed their freedom suits here in the 1840s, leading to the 1857 Supreme Court decision. Virginia Minor’s case for women’s voting rights also began in St. Louis courts.
How far is the Old Courthouse from the Arch?+
It is about a five-minute walk west of the Arch visitor center across the park grounds. Many visitors see both on the same morning.
How long does a visit take?+
About an hour covers the courtrooms and the exhibit galleries. Rangers are usually on hand to answer questions.
