A life-sized statue of Dred and Harriet Scott was unveiled Friday afternoon in front of the historic Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis.
The unveiling of the life-sized statue on June 8th is the first full statue ever dedicated to Dred Scott and his wife Harriet.
As the great-great granddaughter of Dred Scott, Mrs. Lynne M. Jackson founded the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation in 2006 and she participated in the unveiling of the statue as it was gifted to the American people through the National Parks Service.
Others participating in the unveiling ceremony included: descendants of Dred Scott; St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed; Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff; National Park Service Superintendent Thomas Bradley; and sculptor Harry Weber.
The Old Courthouse in St. Louis is where the Scotts petitioned in 1846 for their freedom from slavery, setting in motion the presidential candidacy of Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. Civil War and three amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Information from KMOV.com contributed to this report.
