Visit the Old Courthouse to learn about the Dred Scott Decision. The Old Courthouse is a structure that has remained over the past 150 years, one of St. Louis' most prominent architectural landmarks. The Old Courthouse was the site of hundreds of suits for freedom, but one gained notoriety. 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 is one event that hastened the start of the Civil War. Bob Moore, National Park Service historian, will take us inside the courtroom where Dred and Harriet Scott were eventually granted their freedom just three months after the ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.
