Explore history

Founded in 1807 and named for the esteemed Revolutionary War veteran and politician John Rhea, Rhea County boasts a rich historical tapestry. This legacy is beautifully showcased at the newly renovated Rhea Heritage and Scopes Trial Museum.

However, it was a singular event in 1925 that thrust Dayton, the county seat, onto the world stage: the infamous Scopes Trial. The trial was a clash between science and religion, pitting evolution against creationism. The newly enacted Butler Act in Tennessee had outlawed the teaching of evolution in public schools. The American Civil Liberties Union, seeking to challenge the law, found a willing participant in John T. Scopes, a young high school teacher.

The Scopes Trial quickly became known as the "Trial of the Century." The courtroom drama was electrifying, featuring legendary figures like William Jennings Bryan, the three-time presidential candidate, as the prosecutor, and the renowned defense attorney Clarence Darrow.

Sure, we know the Scopes Trial is what we're most famous for. But delve a little further and you'll find that there's much more to see and do in Rhea County, from eating to lodging to fishing to hiking to a historical walking tour of downtown Dayton. Take a look around and explore beautiful Rhea County, Tennessee.