This Saturday, March 8, the National Park Service honors the 157th anniversary of the Dred Scott Decision, one of the most important cases ever tried in the United States and one that was heard in St. Louis’ Old Courthouse. Dred Scott was a slave in the United States who unsuccessfully sued for his freedom in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case of 1857, known as the “Dred Scott Decision,” which hastened the start of the Civil War.

This all-day event is free of charge and open to the public, and presented in association with the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation.

WHERE:  Old Courthouse, 11 North Fourth Street, St. Louis, MO 63102

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
11:30 am: Acoustic performance by Shiloh music group featuring 19th-century songs.
12:00 pm: “Reflections,” a dramatization by the Dred Scott Theater Troupe.
12:45 pm: Jeff Hines, Blow family descendant, will present his research on Dred Scott and the Blow family in Virginia. Lynne Jackson, great-great granddaughter of Dred Scott, will join in the discussion after the presentation. Lynne Jackson, great-great granddaughter of Dred Scott, and Jeff Hines, descendant of Peter Blow, Dred Scott’s owner, will lead a presentation and discussion on the historic case, and retrace Scott and Blow’s genealogy. Hines will also be available to sign copies of his book Dred Scott’s Virginia.
1:45 pm: Jeff Hines book signing of Dred Scott’s Virginia.
2:15 pm: Ranger-led mock trial of the second Dred Scott trial. (Minimum of 6 visitors necessary for the mock trial, or a ranger-led discussion session will take place instead.)

As always, visit www.gatewayarch.com for MORE information about all of the Arch and OCH’s upcoming events!