Scopes Trial Play

02/05/2026

With Marvin Meyers – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

07/08/2025

One hundred years ago today, Dayton’s voice prepared to echo across the nation.

Engineers from WGN arrived in town to set up their groundbreaking radio broadcast of the Scopes Trial—bringing small-town Tennessee into homes across America. They wired the courthouse, mounted speakers on the lawn, and extended sound to four other locations: the American Legion Hall, a church, a grammar school, and Rhea Central High School.

For the first time in history, a courtroom drama would be broadcast live—turning Dayton into the center of a national conversation.

Photo courtesy of the Rhea County Historical Society

For a complete chronology of the trial, check out Tom Davis and Randy Moore's book, Causes Go On Forever: A Chronology of the Scopes Trial. It is available for purchase at the Rhea County Courthouse.

07/08/2025

On this day 100 years ago, history rolled into Dayton.

William Jennings Bryan—famed orator, three-time presidential candidate, and one of the most influential figures of his era—stepped off the train at the Dayton Depot to a cheering crowd. He had come to take part in what would soon captivate the nation: The Trial of the Century.

Escorted through town to the home of F.R. Rogers on Market Street, Bryan settled in for what would become the final chapter of his remarkable life. Just 19 days later, he would die in that very house—leaving behind a legacy forever tied to Dayton’s place in American history.

Photo courtesy of the Rhea County Historical Society

For a complete chronology of the trial, check out Tom Davis and Randy Moore's book, Causes Go On Forever: A Chronology of the Scopes Trial. It is available for purchase at the Rhea County Courthouse.

07/03/2025

Let's All Go To The Scopes Trial Scopes100.com

One hundred years ago this summer, the eyes and ears of the world were on Dayton, Tennessee in rural Rhea County for the trial of John T. Scopes. The public school teacher was accused of violating the Butler Act, which made it illegal in the state of Tennessee to teach evolution. The American Civil Liberties Union, with attorney Clarence Darrow, came to his defense. William Jennings Bryan, a three-time presidential nominee and someone equally famous as Darrow, presented for the prosecution. It was the trial of the century. This summer and into the fall, the Tennessee State Museum commemorates the historic trial with a temporary display and online exhibition of artifacts and photographs from the Museum’s collection. Learn more on the Thousands of Stories blog: https://bit.ly/4l9plVw.

📸: Principles connected to the Scopes Trial gathered around a bistro table at Robinson's Drug Store, Dayton, Tenn. - June 7, 1925.

07/03/2025

Three shows are sold out, but the fun goes on!

Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation President Rick Dye announced Wednesday, July 2, that all tickets for the July 11, 12 and 18 presentations of Destiny in Dayton have been sold.

“This is tremendously exciting for the cast and the community to think that a week before our centennial performances begin, the tickets have been snapped up,” he said. “We have a number of tickets left for the Saturday, July 19 show, Dinner with the Cast, and in the past few days these tickets have become very attractive.”

Following the show on July 19, ticketholders will move from the courthouse to tents on the lawn where they will enjoy a family-style meal catered by Oren’s Orchard Catering, a business operated by one of the vendors who sold his produce at the courthouse during the 1925 Scopes Trial. “This is really the heart of the Scopes trial experience,” Mr. Dye said. “In 1925, the lawyers argued from the time court opened until it recessed for the day. Then they went to dinner or to other activities where they enjoyed each other’s company, talked about baseball scores or whatever, maybe even discussed what happened in court. They left their differences in the courtroom. Maybe we can get a taste of how that feels, something that would be good for us today.”

Tickets for dinner with the cast are available at www.rheaheritage.com/scopes-trial-play/. And while other shows may be sold out, there is plenty to do around the Rhea County Courthouse.

On July 11 and 12, the community will celebrate heritage days, with family-focused fun: games, bounce houses, a fossil dig, food, a classic car display and the Hokes Archives’ exhibit of “unusual” animals. Most activities are free.

On July 16 and 17, RHPF will host a series of discussions about the trial, Evolving Conflict: Scopes at 100. A dinner on July 16 will feature a talk about the life of John Scopes, the man at the “Center of the Storm.”

Activities on the lawn conclude July 18 and 19 with a display of classic vehicles from the 1920s.

07/02/2025

One hundred years ago today, Clarence Darrow gathered in New York with fellow defense attorneys Arthur Garfield Hays, John R. Neal, Dudley Field Malone, and others to prepare for one of the most pivotal trials in American history. The Scopes Trial was just around the corner, and history was already in motion.

Photo courtesy of the Rhea County Historical Society, Randy Moore Collection

07/01/2025

Wrap up the 36th annual Scopes Trial Play & Festivities with a evening of music on the Rhea County Courthouse lawn!

Scenic City Sound, a Big Band from Chattanooga, will be serenading guests at the Scopes Dinner with the Cast on July 20, and the Rhea County community is invited to join the fun.

Guests who have attended the closing performance of “Destiny in Dayton” that afternoon will move to the courtyard for dinner under big tents, but the Scenic City Sound will roll out beyond the courthouse grounds.

“Last year we had a small crowd of friends of the band come for the music. This year, we hope it’s a big crowd,” said Rick Dye, president of Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation. “SCS offers a great show with music that everyone enjoys, and it’s great for dancing.

“We appreciate the support we have received from the community over the years, and this is just a small way of our saying ‘thank you.’
“We have some tickets left for the July 20 show, so we hope many will take advantage of the Dinner with the Cast event, but welcome all who want to hear just the music,” he said. Music will start about 4:15 p.m. on July 20. If you do not attend the play, plan to bring your own seating.

Information about the play and dinner is available at www.scopes100.com/events.

06/30/2025

A FEW MORE LEFT
A second performance of the Scopes Trial play “Destiny in Dayton” has sold out, leaving a few more tickets available for the July 18 and 19 shows. All tickets for the July 11 and 12 events have been sold.

“We’re excited at the response to the Centennial production of ‘Destiny in Dayton,’ and are delighted to welcome guests to the newly renovated courtroom,” said Rick Dye, president of Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation.

“Destiny in Dayton” is a dramatization of the Scopes Trial with dialogue taken from the trial transcript, presented in the courtroom where the Trial was held in 1925. In addition, the character Nellie Kenyon, portraying a reporter who covered the Trial, acts as a narrator using words the original Nellie wrote when reporting on the case.

“We have two more shows with seating available on July 18 and 19,” Mr. Dye said. “That Friday show has fewer than 40 seats available. On Saturday, the play ticket includes the cost of Dinner with the Cast – a family-style meal served under tents on the courthouse lawn. During the meal, Scenic City Sound, a Big Band from Chattanooga will entertain with period music.”

Tickets for both shows are available at www.rheaheritage.com/scopes-trial-play/ or www.scopes100.com/events.

06/17/2025

Here’s an excellent look at the controversy which sparked the Scopes Trial. The author is Dr. John Hawks, who will speak about human evolution during the Scopes Centennial symposium in July. Check it out at www.johnhawks.net/p/how-evolution-became-a-uniquely-american .

06/04/2025

SOLD OUT – and Selling Fast!

The first performance of "Destiny in Dayton" is SOLD OUT, and tickets for the remaining three shows are selling fast.

Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation President Rick Dye announced the sold-out performance this week, noting the milestone is one of the earliest even for the Scopes Trial dramatization.

“I think this demonstrates the interest in the Trial’s centennial,” Mr. Dye said. “The fact that our nation is grappling with virtually the same issues as were argued in Dayton in 1925 makes this historic story really resonate with our audience today.”

"Destiny’s" dialogue is adapted from the Scopes Trial transcript, and offers guests the opportunity to hear words from William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow and other lawyers, spoken in the same room where they were uttered 100 years ago.

“The county is nearing completion of a restoration of the courtroom, so the major difference for the show will be that there is air conditioning, unlike in 1925,” Mr. Dye said.

Other performances are scheduled for Friday, July 11; Friday, July 18; and Saturday, July 19. Ticket price for the July 19 show includes a 1925-themed Dinner with the Cast on the courthouse lawn, immediately following the play. Tickets for each event are available at www.rheaheritage.com/scopes-trial-play/.

Information about other Scopes Trial Centennial events is available at www.scopes100.com/events.

03/29/2025

Our friends in Monroeville.

Tonight's gift for a lucky audience member! Thanks so much to Cobbwebs for donating this wonderful gift! Conveniently located on the square, they're a wonderful supporter of the Play!