St. Louis’ Old Courthouse gets $17M investment towards renovation
ST. LOUIS — With the Old Courthouse behind them, a group of public officials and National Park Service rangers gathered Thursday afternoon.
“We tell the story of the fight for freedom like Bunker Hill and Valley Forge,” says Jeremy Sweat, Superintendent of Gateway Arch National Park.
Now the group will continue telling the stories from the Old Courthouse thanks to an investment from the Great American Outdoors Act.
“Today I’m so thrilled to announce new investments from the Great American Outdoors Act for Gateway Arch National Park,” says Deb Haaland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior. “With a new 17-million-dollar investment, they can move onto the next phase of the renovation of the Old Courthouse, which will restore the upper floors and exterior of the building.”
Currently, this is the second major renovation to the Old Courthouse since it was completed in 1862. The renovation was jointly funded by the National Park Service and the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.
The National Park Service tells the stories of the people who explored, were exploited or inhabited the American West.
“It was on these steps that our ancestors were sold into slavery,” says Tishaura O. Jones, St. Louis Mayor. “This is also where 100’s of enslaved people, most famously Dredd and Hariett Scott, first sued for their freedom. This was the building where the doors of justice were opened to slaves.”
When completed, the Old Courthouse will have improved accessibility and modernized utilities to improve the visitor experience. Funds from the Great American Outdoors Act are part of President Biden’s Investing in America infrastructure agenda.
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