Jefferson City, Missouri
Since we had not properly covered Jefferson City in one day we spent the night and started off bright and early the next morning. We dropped in on the Supreme Court Building, located on West High Street, just to make sure our tax dollars were hard at work.
Where is the Missouri Supreme Court
The guards thought we looked a little sketchy, confiscated our cell phones, of course they do that to everyone, and made us walk through the metal detector. Poor Dan, with his steel-toe shoes and metal belt buckle, buzzed all over. They scanned him with their magic wand and he had to do some quick talking to get through the door.
I am proud to say my titanium knee was indeed where the surgeon placed it because I beeped too. The guard really didn’t care, but I had the scar as proof. Our traveling buddies, Lindell and Myrna, quietly slipped through behind the two buzzing old people.
Once we passed security we were a captive audience for Becky who must have known it had been years since we had sat through one of Mrs. Weber’s High School history lectures and Becky took up right where Mrs. Weber left off.
What is the Highest Court in Missouri
The Missouri Supreme Court, the states highest court, had solved controversial disputes since it began in 1820.
We found it interesting that the Supreme Court building was built with funds left over from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The big three-story red-brick building, which costed $17,000 to build, opened in October of 1907. The building was made of stone pillars, stone trim and a slate roof. As you entered the lobby a massive marble staircase, that filled the room, was an impressive sight.
Who was Old Drum
We discovered the true story from 1869 of Old Drum, an old black and tan farm dog that was shot and killed by a neighbor and how the case went to the Supreme Court.
We learned some tips about voting for our judges. We found how a Supreme Court Judge got his job and that the Supreme Court judges were not supposed to be party affiliated. Our guide was so thorough we even learned the cleaning lady polished the massive staircase handrails every day. Although the offices looked empty, she was hard at work! Thank you ma’am.
What Offices Occupy the Missouri Supreme Court Building
The building housed the offices of:
- Supreme Court Clerk
- Clerk Staff
- Two Court Rooms
- Supreme Court Library
- State Attorney General’s Office
When the building was first constructed Supreme Court Judges traveled to Jefferson City from their hometowns, spending three months fulfilling their duties. Each of heir offices consisted of a small apartment for their use while serving. Those apartments have now been remodeled into more office space for secretaries and other needed staff.
Missouri Supreme Court Library
The Supreme Court Library was beautifully constructed and was slowly being remodeled to look as it did when it was first constructed with skylights throughout. The number of books in the oversized room was staggering. I would hate to be the one to organize that room. I can just hear the conversation now.
“Hey Carolyn, Where did you put . . .”
I’m convinced that conversation would end with the words, “You’re fired.”
Missouri Supreme Court Tours
The free tour through the Supreme Court Building lasted about 30 minutes. I would have loved to take pictures throughout, but without a cell phone I just had to rely on my old memory.
As we pushed the huge front doors open to leave we said goodbye to the guard with the magic wand. We wondered about the many people that had passed through those beautiful heavy doors and ambled up the massive staircase shining brightly behind us.
Happy Wandering!