The Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis has been closed for some time as it undergoes its second-ever major renovation in the building's history.
It is scheduled to reopen in spring 2025 with all-new exhibits as well as things visitors wouldn't necessarily notice: new heating, air-conditioning, ventilation, fire suppression and renovated ceilings and flooring. It will also be fully accessible to anyone with mobility issues.
Listen to Debbie Monterrey's audio tour here:
Gateway Arch National Park program manager, Pam Sanfilippo, says new, updated exhibits will include the hundreds of freedom suits filed in St. Louis by enslaved people, including the most famous: Dred and Harriet Scott. She says in the past, Dred and Harriet's tale was told from the perspective of the court. The new exhibit will focus more on the fight from their perspective.
Rendering of new exhibit at Old CourthouseGateway Arch Park Foundation
The Old Courthouse renovation is the final component of the $380-million CityArchRiver project, which is the largest public-private partnership in the history of the National Park Service. Other improvements include the renovation of Kiener Plaza; the overhaul of the Gateway Arch grounds, visitor center and museum; extending Luther Ely Smith Square over the highway, and upgrades to the St. Louis riverfront.
Construction is being led by Tarlton Corporation, architectural work by Trivers, both St. Louis companies. The new exhibits are being created by the same company that did the Arch Museum exhibits: Haley Sharpe Designs in the UK.
