Rhea County Courthouse

Rhea County Courthouse is a three-story brick building with Italianate style located at Second Avenue and Market Street in downtown Dayton. The structure displays the typical features of this architectural tradition, including a broad hip roof and corner towers.

The building was constructed in 1891 by W. Chamberlin and Company and gained national attention in 1925 through a celebrated trial about teaching evolution in schools. This event transformed the courthouse into a symbol of the clash between scientific thinking and religious belief.

The second-floor courtroom preserves its original 1925 furnishings and shows how the space looked during one of America's most important debates between science and religion. Visitors can walk through the room and grasp why this place mattered so deeply to the nation.

The ground floor houses active administrative offices and court operations, while the basement contains a museum dedicated to the historic trial. Visitors should know that they can explore both the courtroom spaces and learn more about the events that took place here.

Bronze statues of opposing attorneys William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow stand on the courthouse grounds, representing the two sides of the historic trial. These statues remind visitors that the people in this building debated not just a question, but two opposing visions for the future.