Old Courthouse

About

One of the most important historic sites in the U.S., the Old Courthouse reopened on May 3, 2025, after a two-year, multimillion-dollar renovation focused on increased accessibility, structural improvements and new exhibitory. Topped by an Italian Renaissance-style, wrought-iron dome, the Old Courthouse was built between 1839 and 1862, and it heard more than 300 freedom suits, including the pivotal Dred and Harriet Scott cases, before the American Civil War. It’s also where Virginia Minor sued for her right to vote in Missouri in 1872 – the same year that Susan B. Anthony was arrested for trying to vote. At the Old Courthouse, you can stand where history happened. The new galleries allow visitors to dive deeper into stories of the past, and upcoming exhibits will spotlight the building’s architecture, craftsmanship and artistry and explain the importance of courts in our society.