Rhea County Courthouse facts for kids
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Rhea County Courthouse
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The Rhea County Courthouse
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1475 Market Street Dayton, Tennessee |
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| Area | 3.7 acres (1.5 ha) |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | W. Chamberlin Dowling & Taylor |
| Architectural style | Italian villa Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001251 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | December 8, 1976 |
The Rhea County Courthouse is an important historic building in Dayton, Tennessee. It was built in 1891 and is well-known for a famous event called the Scopes trial. This trial happened in July 1925.
During the Scopes trial, a teacher named John T. Scopes was accused of teaching about Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. This was against a state law at the time. The trial became a big debate between two famous lawyers: William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow. It showed the differences between traditional beliefs and newer ideas in American society.
Today, the courthouse also has a museum about the trial. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1976 because of its historical importance.
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What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Rhea County Courthouse is a large, three-story building made of brick. It stands out in the center of Dayton. The building has design elements from both Romanesque and Italian villa styles.
It has a wide, sloping roof. One corner of the front has a shorter tower with a sloped roof. On the other corner, there is a taller square tower with a clock. Above the clock, there is an open, eight-sided bell tower. Some of the windows are shaped with round arches at the top. Inside, many parts of the building are still original. This includes the main courtroom on the second floor, where the famous Scopes trial took place.
History of the Courthouse
The courthouse was built between 1890 and 1891. Dayton became the county seat, replacing Washington, which was the previous county seat. Architects from Knoxville, Tennessee designed the building. Contractors from Chattanooga built it.
The Famous Scopes Trial
In July 1925, the courthouse became the site of one of the most talked-about trials of the 1920s. This was the Scopes trial. Local people helped set up the trial to bring attention to Dayton. This happened after Tennessee passed the Butler Act, which made it illegal to teach biological evolution in public schools.
John T. Scopes, a science teacher, was arrested for breaking this new law. The state's side was represented by William Jennings Bryan, a famous speaker and religious leader. Scopes was defended by a team from the ACLU, led by the well-known lawyer Clarence Darrow.
Even though Scopes was found guilty, the trial created a huge public discussion. It highlighted the conflict between legal rules, and between traditional and modern ideas in American society. The defense even called Bryan to speak, which helped show the different viewpoints. In the years that followed, many states that had similar laws decided to remove them.
Rhea County Museum
In 1979, a project costing $1 million was finished. It restored the second-floor courtroom to look exactly as it did during the Scopes trial. The Rhea County Museum, also known as the Scopes Trial Museum, is located in the courthouse basement.
The museum displays items from the trial. These include the microphone used to broadcast the trial, official trial records, and photographs. There is also a video history of the trial. Every July, local people act out important parts of the trial in the courtroom.
Outside the courthouse, there is a special marker from the Tennessee Historical Commission. It tells about the Scopes trial:
2B 23
THE SCOPES TRIALHere, from July 10 to 21, 1925, John
Thomas Scopes, a county high school
teacher, was tried for teaching that
a man descended from a lower order
of animals in violation of a lately
passed state law. William Jennings
Bryan assisted the prosecution;
Clarence Darrow, Arthur Garfield
Hays, and Dudley Field Malone the
defense. Scopes was convicted.
The Rhea County Courthouse was named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1976. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Statues on the Courthouse Lawn
On October 1, 2005, a statue of William Jennings Bryan was placed on the courthouse lawn. This statue was paid for by a gift from nearby Bryan College. It was put there to celebrate the school's 75th anniversary.
Later, on July 14, 2017, a statue of Clarence Darrow was revealed. It stands near Bryan's statue. This statue was funded by a gift from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
See also
