Visit the Old Courthouse + Galleries
Details
Last went: 2017
Will go again: 2033
Cost: Free
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For parking (from Lara):
“Though Gateway Arch National Park does not operate any parking facilities within our boundaries, we have a Preferred Parking Program at nearby Stadium East Parking Garage. It is $10 for 5 hours. Pre-purchasing parking at iparkit.com/TheArch is highly recommended, especially on Cardinals game days or days when other large events are happening. If parking is not pre-purchased on event days, the special $10 rate will not be recognized and event day parking rates will apply.”
NOTE: I just purchased through this link and paid $8 for 5 hours at Stadium West.
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I sent an email message to all RSVP'd to go. Below is what was in the message:
New information for this event (again!):
I received news late last night from my contact:
"I have some good news and bad news. Bad news first, my supervisors have decided we are too short-staffed to provide your group a full tour. But good news, your group can still come, and the ranger working at the information desk (Carl) has prepared a short (~10-15 min) orientation for your group. He will have a microphone. After that, your group can explore the exhibit galleries and restored courtrooms on their own. Another ranger, Nate, will also be available to answer questions. I'm sorry for the inconvenience on this. The shutdown messed up a lot of stuff."
So this event won't be the guided tour I thought it would be, but then, two weeks ago I was wondering if we would have to cancel the entire event. We will still meet a little before noon to hear what Carl has to say. Maybe next time we'll be able to do a tour like we did in 2017.
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There are 4 new museum galleries and 2 restored courtrooms.
"The Old Courthouse was the site of the first two trials of the pivotal Dred Scott case in 1847 and 1850. It was also where Virginia Minor's case for a woman's right to vote came to trial in the 1870s." ( https://www.nps.gov/jeff/planyourvisit/och.htm)