ST. LOUIS 鈥 For the first time in years, Randy Burkett gazed upwards at the murals and pillars adorning the interior of the 190-foot dome of the Old Courthouse, reassured by how his city takes care of its monuments.
Jeremy Sweat, right, superintendent of Gateway Arch National Park, smiles as聽Lynne Jackson, great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and founder of The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, cuts the ribbon at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse, officially opening it to the public on Saturday, May 3, 2025, in downtown 51黑料.
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Jeremy Sweat, Gateway Arch National Park Superintendent, speaks in front of the ribbon at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
A line of visitors files into the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Old Courthouse reopened to the public with a ceremony and festival after a $27.5 million restoration.
Renovations are coming to the Old Courthouse, including an exhibit showcasing the lives of Dred and Harriet Scott. Video by Christine Tannous, 51黑料
Photos: The Old Courthouse reopens with new exhibits
Twinette Johnson, dean of 51黑料 University School of Law, delivers the keynote speech on the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The $27.5 million rennovations the courthouse underwent included the installation of a new elevator, HVAC and fire suppression system.
Lynne Jackson, great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and founder of The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, cuts the ribbon at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse, officially opening it to the public in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell listens to the keynote speech at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Jeremy Sweat, right, superintendent of Gateway Arch National Park, smiles as聽Lynne Jackson, great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott and founder of The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, cuts the ribbon at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse, officially opening it to the public on Saturday, May 3, 2025, in downtown 51黑料.
Twinette Johnson, dean of 51黑料 University School of Law, delivers the keynote speech on the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The $27.5 million rennovations the courthouse underwent included the installation of a new elevator, HVAC and fire suppression system.
The 51黑料 Symphony's IN UNISON choir performs on the front steps at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Mayor Cara Spencer listens to the keynote speech at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Jeremy Sweat, Gateway Arch National Park Superintendent, speaks in front of the ribbon at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Mayor Cara Spencer speaks with Lynne Jackson, great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Cott and founder of The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The courthouse was the home of the historic Dred Scott decision.
Tim Crusoe waves an American flag and stands dressed in American flag clothing as he listens to the keynote speech at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Crusoe said he came to the event to be apart of the history of the reopening.
A line of visitors files into the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Old Courthouse reopened to the public with a ceremony and festival after a $27.5 million restoration.
Trey Bolen and Kierstan McBride stand together as they look outside a window during the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. As a part of the building's $27.5 million rennovation, new windows were installed across the courthouse.
Saidiya Asebedo and her daughter Imari Asebedo look at paintings in the main hall of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Mayor Cara Spencer talks with visitors on the front steps of the Old Courthouse during its reopening in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Visitors walk through the main hall of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 during its public reopening on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Visitors grab commemorative coins on their way in to the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The courthouse reopened to the public with a ceremony following a $27.5 million rennovation.
Anthony Miano hands out commemorative coins to visitors at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Miano came to the event to see the courthouse and decided to hand out coins to help people get inside faster.
Valerie Hamilton, left, and Jennifer Major stamp slips of paper with the National Parks stamp of the Old Courthouse during its reopening in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Hamilton and Major came to the event as family members of Lynne Jackson, great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott.
Bernard Hammond looks at an exhibit at the Old Courthouse during its reopeningin 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Hammond came from Joliet to the reopneing to support his fiance's son who helped build the new HVAC system in the building.
A crowd of visitors files into the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Old Courthouse reopened to the public with a ceremony and festival after a $27.5 million restoration.
A line of visitors files into the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Old Courthouse reopened to the public with a ceremony and festival after a $27.5 million restoration.
Michael Schulte, left, a volunteer at Gateway Arch National Park, speaks to Madison and Deme're Harris inside a new exhibit at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. "We love going to all the historic sites in 51黑料," Deme're said. "We couldn't miss this."
Visitors walk through the main hall of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 during its public reopening on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Carol Daniel, senior producer of Nine PBS, emcees the ceremony at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
A visitor looks at a statue of Dred and Harriet Scott during the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The courthouse was the site of the historic 1857 Dred Scott case where Scott, a slave at the time, sued for his freedom.
The 51黑料 Symphony's IN UNISON choir performs on the front steps at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Banners hang from the newly renovated Old Courthouse in downtown 51黑料 to commemorate its grand reopening after extensive renovations on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
The 51黑料 Symphony's IN UNISON choir performs on the front steps at the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
Twinette Johnson, dean of 51黑料 University School of Law, delivers the keynote speech on the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The $27.5 million rennovations the courthouse underwent included the installation of a new elevator, HVAC and fire suppression system.
A crowd of attendees stands for the national anthem outside of the Old Courthouse in 51黑料 for its grand reopening ceremony on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The courthouse reopened after a $27.5 million restoration.
