Rhea County Courthouse, County courthouse and National Historic Landmark in Dayton, United States
The three-story brick building features Italianate architecture with broad hip roof and towers at Second Avenue and Market Street in downtown Dayton.
Built in 1891 by W. Chamberlin and Company, the courthouse gained national attention during the 1925 Scopes trial about teaching evolution in schools.
The second-floor courtroom remains preserved with original furnishings from 1925, displaying the exact setting where the evolution versus creationism debate occurred.
The first floor maintains active county administrative offices and a chancery court, while the basement contains a museum about the Scopes trial.
Bronze statues of attorneys William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow stand on the courthouse grounds, representing both sides of the historic trial.
Location: Dayton
Architectural style: Italianate architecture
GPS coordinates: 35.49493,-85.01268
Latest update: March 6, 2025 12:26
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