Courthouses

Wayside describing how the building has changed over time.

Historic Truman Courthouse is the official start of the Oregon Trail, where wagons were outfitted through much of the emigration era. The original building on the site went up in 1836 in the Colonial Revival style.

Mismanagement and insufficient funding from the local government delayed the completion of the District of Columbia City Hall/Courthouse for over thirty years. The original stucco-covered brick structure was finally completed in 1849.

Three Cherokee detachments passed through Jackson, MO on their way to Oklahoma. In 1838, Jackson already had a courthouse.

This site served as the federal courtroom and jail cell for freedom seekers arrested under the Fugitive Slave Law. In response, the courthouse became a site of protest for abolitionists.

The Old Courthouse is the location of the first two trials the Dred Scott Case. Dred and Harriet Scott and over 300 enslaved persons sought their freedom here through the legal system.

The West Virginia mine wars were a series of violent labor uprisings that raged throughout the southern coalfields of West Virginia in the early 1900s. Throughout the conflict, thousands of miners organized into labor unions to fight back against the oppressive policies of coal company operators. Read on to discover the amazing history of the West Virginia mine wars and their impact on American labor rights!

Use this lesson to explore the history of the historic St. Louis courthouse.

This article features a reading and activities about Dred and Harriet Scott and their efforts to sue for their freedom. The content is intended for middle school learners but can easily be adapted for use by learners of all ages.

Learn how the Harrison vs. Lee trial established Thomas Stone as one of the major trial lawyers in Maryland. Despite suffering defeat in the unpopular case, Stone's skill as a lawyer led Maryland to select him to represent the colony in the Continental Congress and ultimately led him to become one of 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

When viewed from the east, the Gateway Arch frames the Old Courthouse, which emphasizes the significance of the Old Courthouse in greater St. Louis history. It is especially notable for its design merit and association with important and historic legal cases. During the 19th century, disenfranchised groups fought for freedom and equality in the courthouse, setting legal precedents in the process.