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Jefferson National Expansion MemorialPeace Medal display in the Museum of Westward Expansion
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Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
Dred Scott Courtroom
The courtroom where the Dred Scott cases were heard is no longer in existence. In 1855, even before the Scott's campaign for their freedom ended, the courtroom received extensive renovation. The large courtroom, as originally constructed, occupied the entire west wing. An architectural flaw was discovered which threatened the wing's ceiling on the first floor, and additional support was required. As a result, a new corridor running on an east-west axis was added, dividing the large courtroom where the Scott trials were heard into two smaller courtrooms. A display about the trial is exhibited in this corridor, near the original site.

Drawing of Dred Scott from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 1857  

Did You Know?
In 1846, a slave named Dred Scott sued for his freedom at the St. Louis Courthouse. His case went all the way to the Supreme Court, where the verdict set the stage for the Civil War. Today, the Old Courthouse is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Click to learn more about Dred Scott.
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Last Updated: December 15, 2009 at 15:20 EST