The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, USA, features the Gateway Arch, Old Courthouse, and Museum of Westward Expansion. It commemorates Thomas Jefferson’s efforts to expand the western US and honors pioneers, Native Americans, and freedom fighters. The Gateway Arch, designed by Eero Saarinen, is 630 feet tall and offers a tram ride to its upper viewing platform. The Old Courthouse, built in 1828, was the site of the Dred Scott and Virginia Minor trials. The Museum of Westward Expansion showcases the lives of Lewis and Clark and pioneers in the American West.
The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, located in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is home to three distinct national and regional treasures: the Gateway Arch, the Old Courthouse, and the Museum of Westward Expansion. The memorial area is managed by the US National Park Service and was established to commemorate Thomas Jefferson’s efforts in opening up the western United States for expansion and settlement. It also serves as a tribute to the pioneers and Native American Indians who transformed the West and to freedom fighters, such as Dred Scott and Virginia Minor.
The Gateway Arch, constructed of stainless steel, is the first stop for many visitors when they explore the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Designed by Eero Saarinen, the arch is 630 feet (192.02 m) tall and 630 feet (192.0 m) wide from leg to leg at its base. It is often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the West’ and symbolizes Thomas Jefferson’s dream of spreading democracy and freedom from ‘sea to shining sea’. Visitors can take a ten-minute tram ride to the Arch’s upper viewing platform. From there, they can gaze at one of the 16 widows on each side of the observation deck which holds a maximum of 140 people.
Construction of the Gateway Arch at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial began in 1963 and took more than two years to complete. The first tram didn’t open to the public until 1967. It was designed to withstand earthquakes and high winds. In fact, should an earthquake or 150 mph (240 km per hour) wind occur, the Arch is capable of swinging 18 inches (46 cm). Also, if winds are gusty, it is not uncommon for the top of the arch to swing at least 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 cm).
The Old Courthouse, also located at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, was originally built on land donated to St. Louis County in 1816. The land was donated to the city for the specific purpose of building a courthouse, as it previously court and city business took place in non-government buildings, such as a church, fort, and tavern. The Old Courthouse was built in 1828 and then extended ten years later.
In time, the court was moved to another location and the Old Courthouse and surrounding grounds became part of a legal battle over the property. The heirs of the land argued that once the land was no longer used for a court, the land would revert to them. The courts disagreed and the land was transferred to the National Park Service.
The Old Courthouse is open for guided tours of the restored classrooms and galleries. Many important legal cases have been heard in the Old Courthouse at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. For example, it was the site of both the Dred Scott trial and the Virginia Minor trial. In 1847 and again in 1850, Dred Scott and his wife sued for freedom from slavery and won their freedom, until the Supreme Court held that they had no right to sue, pushing the states into Civil War . Virginia Minor sued for her right to vote when she was not allowed to register to vote in 1870.
The Museum of Westward Expansion is a historical museum at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It focuses on the lives and journey of Lewis and Clark and their exploration of the American West. Visitors can see a Native American tepee and covered wagon. They can also learn about pioneers and Native American Indians living on the frontier. Dioramas and exhibits show how farmers, miners, hunters, trappers, and others lived in the area west of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
