Rhea County Courthouse, Tennessee, United States

4GDL919 5:00 PM Jul 16, 2017

An Incredible Time Capsule of the Most Important Trial in History
We traveled to Dayton, Tennessee for the express purpose of visiting the Rhea County Courthouse where the Scopes "Monkey Trial" was conducted. The Courthouse bore a sign that said, "Read your Bible", just steps away from the newly unveiled statue of Clarence Darrow. The second floor courtroom appears to be unchanged from those 11 days in 1925 when history was made here. We sat alone in the empty courtroom just to savor the smells of ancient wood and the echoes of infamous orators. The basement is a makeshift museum containing artifacts of the day, and relevant information to carry the visitor back to 1925. The price of gas, the box scores, the latest musical "hits", and images of old cars lining the town's roads from July 10-21, 1925 are all prominently displayed. Dayton lives at a slower pace. A local attorney in the Clerk's office had time to share pieces of town lore as long as I was willing to listen. During the hour that we were there, no pleadings were filed. Court was in session on the first floor, and a half dozen locals waited in the hallway for whatever part of the justice process they were scheduled to play that day. For those interested in putting this chapter in history into its rational context, a day in Dayton is a day well spent.

3Chuck M 5:00 PM Aug 14, 2021

Famous Courthouse
Was looking so forward to see all of the displays but the museum was closed due to the covid, I understand, was just disappointed. Took pictures of the grounds and the Clarence Darrow statue, beautiful location. Picked up some post cards at The Gathering Place cattycorner from the court house.