Rhea Heritage and Scopes Trial Museum
The Rhea Heritage and Scopes Trial Museum preserves the memory and legacy of one of the most famous trials in US history. This landmark trial garnered national attention and raised questions about the separation of church and state, freedom of and access to education, the role of science in curriculums, and more.
Today, visitors can learn about the trial at the museum, which is dedicated to the case that put Dayton, Tennessee, on the map. It was even considered moving the trial to Chattanooga, but decided to keep it in Dayton.
About the Scopes Trial
The Scopes trial was such a monumental case because it took on the blurring of the lines between church and state, academic freedom, the role of science in education, and the potential criminalization of teaching.
It all began when the Butler Act was passed in 1925. The Act prohibited teaching evolution in public schools, mandating instead that educators were only to teach the Biblical account of creation.
There was an immediate outcry against the Act from the American Civil Liberties Union, and the organization offered to defend anyone who taught evolution in the face of the newly passed Act.
John T. Scopes, a high school teacher in Dayton, Tennesse who later admitted he couldnโt remember if heโd ever taught evolution in his classrooms at all, purposely incriminated himself in an effort to protest the Act, taking the ACLU up on its offer to defend those who stood against it.
From July 10th to July 21st, 1925, Scopes stood trial against a prosecution led by William Jennings Bryan, a prominent Christian fundamentalist and three-time candidate for president.
He was defended by renowned ACLU attorney Clarence Darrow. As the case went on over those eleven days, it garnered national attention, dubbed โThe Monkey Trialโ by news outlets because, at that time, people often mistakenly assumed that humans evolved from monkeys.
The immediate outcome of the trial was that Scopes was charged a $100 fine, but the long-term effects were felt for decades to come. There was an almost immediate conversation revolving around the separation of church and state and educational freedom that lasted for decades. In fact, it wasnโt until the late 1960s that the Act was repealed.
The Rhea Heritage and Scopes Trial Museum
The Scopes Trial Museum, located in the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, is devoted to preserving the memory of this iconic trial and those involved.
The museum is headed by The Rhea County Historical Society, an organization devoted to discovering, collecting, and displaying materials of all kinds to educate visitors about the rich heritage and history of Rhea County.
A big part of the Historical Societyโs mission has been keeping the memory of the Scopes Trial alive. To that end, theyโve housed the museum in the basement of the Rhea County Courthouse, the very place where the trial was held.
In the basement of this Romanesque Revival-Italian villa-style courthouse constructed in 1891, visitors can find rooms filled with memorabilia and photos flanked by tablets with a written recounting of the most important parts of the trial. Visiting the museum is FREE.
The Museum also offers storyboards and interactive touchscreen experiences to offer more information about the trial and its importance.
This chair is from the boarding house where many stayed during the trial.
You will also find history about Rhea County and the different courthouses from the past. Many local residents also became involved with the trial, from people renting rooms to participants of the trial, to those just attending.
To this day, you still find a lot of monkey memorabilia around town as it was known too as โmonkey townโ โ even restaurants.
This is the 100th anniversary with many activities scheduled throughout 2025, including a re-enactment of the trial. Find all the detail here SCOPES 100.
If youโre traveling anywhere near Dayton, Tennessee, stop by and check out the Rhea Heritage and Scopes Trial Museum. Itโs an interested trip back in time to a case that raised some serious legal, moral, and political questions, offered a few answers, and continues to be a fascinating piece of American history today.
Watch soon for more about Rhea County and Dayton but maybe you will be visiting the Chattanooga area as well, so check out some of my favorites.
Iโve included affiliate links to Amazon for you to find some products easier. I may receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you. It just helps my blog out.
Happy Travels,
Rosemary
