Old Courthouse FAQ

What are the hours?

The Old Courthouse is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Where can I park?

Our parking page has information about this.

What is there to do here?

There are four museum galleries and two restored courtrooms.

How much does it cost?

There is no entrance fee.

Do you have guided tours?

Yes, we have ranger programs every day at 2:15.

The building was closed for a long time. What happened during that time?

The building underwent extensive renovations and new museum galleries were installed. Learn more here.

When did construction begin on the Old Courthouse?

The cornerstone was laid on October 21, 1839.

How high is the dome?

192 feet, or 58.5 meters. The courthouse was Missouri's tallest habitable building from 1864 to 1894.

Is the rotunda floor original?

Yes. It is made of polished limestone. Each slab is at least 3.5 inches thick.

How long did it take to build the courthouse?

23 years, 1839-1862.

Who designed the building?

Henry Singleton designed the building, and William Rumbold designed the dome.

How many courtrooms did the building originally contain?

There were originally 13 courtrooms: seven on the first floor and six on the second floor.

Where is the 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 first floor of the west wing. An architectural flaw was discovered which threatened its ceiling, 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.

Were enslaved people sold here?

Enslaved people were sometimes sold from the steps of the east wing in settlement of property suits, but this was not done as a regular business practice.

Who painted the murals in the rotunda? Are they original?

Two artists painted the murals. The oval paintings, called lunettes, were by German-American artist Carl Wimar in 1862. Wimar was very ill with tuberculosis while completing the paintings and died soon after they were completed.

The other murals are by Italian artist Ettore Miragoli and were painted in 1880.

How much did the courthouse cost to build?

Approximately $1.2 million, which would be equal to around $44 million today.

When did the city stop using the courthouse?

It was last used as a courthouse in 1930. The city gave it to the National Park Service for inclusion into Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in 1940. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial was renamed Gateway Arch National Park in 2018.

Was this ever the capital of Missouri?

No. The first capital of Missouri was St. Charles, and then was moved to Jefferson City.