Old Courthouse: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Gateway Arch National Park

MWRO Cultural Landscapes Program

The historic designed landscape and structures of the Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, MO are associated with the westward expansion of the United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Gateway Arch is situated on the location of the original settlement of St. Louis, which was established in 1764 by Pierre Laclede as a French fur trading post. St. Louis quickly became a commercial hub and jumping off point as the United States grew further west. The Old Courthouse is a structure of both architectural and historical significance, and the period of significance for this component landscape is 1839-1930. During this period, the Courthouse was built and served as a prominent feature of Old St. Louis. It was the city’s center of activity when St. Louis was the gateway to the West. Throughout the 19th century, the Old Courthouse in St. Louis served not only as a house of justice, but also as a public gathering place for pioneers planning their westward trek across the plains. Thirteen courtrooms were in use from 1845 until 1930. The gatherings held here dealt not only with matters of local importance but also reflected many of the great movements and events in the Nation’s history. Litigation in the Dred Scott case began in this building. In 1847, Dred Scott, with his wife Harriet, sued for, and were granted, their freedom. After many appeals, the case was decided upon by the Supreme Court. The decision stated that slaves were property, and as such, had no right to sue. The Dred Scott Decision hastened the start of the Civil War. The Courthouse dominated the city’s skyline until skyscrapers rose to challenge it at the turn of the century. Its iron-framed dome was the forerunner of many similar ones to be erected on government buildings around the country. For many years the courthouse rotunda was one of the largest and most ornate rooms in St. Louis, and it was used for many city activities in a time when debates, speeches, and even court proceedings were considered forms of entertainment. In 1935, it was defined as part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, which was dedicated to honor Thomas Jefferson for his role in the westward expansion of the United States. The Memorial became Gateway Arch National Park in February 2018. This Cultural Landscape Inventory report for the Old Courthouse landscape identifies and documents the landscape’s location, size, physical development, condition, landscape characteristics as character-defining features, as well as other valuable information useful to park management.

Old Courthouse: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Gateway Arch National Park

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