The Romanesque Revival-Italian villa-style courthouse, constructed in 1891, was restored and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. On the second floor lies the famous courtroom where the Scopes Trial took place, preserving its original judge’s bench, four tables, railing, jury chairs, and spectator seating.
In the spring of 1925, John Thomas Scopes, a 24-year-old science teacher at Rhea County High School in Dayton, found himself at the center of a landmark legal case. At the heart of the controversy was Tennessee's newly enacted law prohibiting the teaching of evolution. In Dayton, conversations about the law took place at Robinson's Drugstore on Market Street, a popular meeting spot for locals. Led by Earle Robinson, the energetic owner, and George Rappleyea, superintendent of Dayton Coal & Iron Company, a small group, including Scopes, devised a plan to challenge the law in court. Though initially conceived as a publicity stunt, the case quickly garnered worldwide attention, surpassing even the organizers' expectations. The very table where the pivotal decision was made on May 15, 1925, can still be seen today in the Rhea Heritage and Scopes Museum, located in the basement of the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton.
For the most up-to-date hours and information, please contact The Scopes Trial Museum & Rhea County Courthouse directly.
