Rhea County Historical Society

05/21/2026

As part of our ongoing America 250 series, the Rhea County Historical Society’s newest blog post explores the rich history of strawberries in our community, from the hundreds of freight cars shipped across the nation in the 1930s to the traditions that helped shape today’s Strawberry Festival. The story also highlights the historic Strawberry Festival queen’s cape and the lasting connection between agriculture, community, and celebration in Rhea County.

Take a moment to read and enjoy this sweet piece of local history! 🍓

As Rhea County continues celebrating America 250, the beloved Strawberry Festival remains one of the county’s most enduring traditions, marking its seventy-ninth year in 2026. Long before the modern festival, strawberries shaped the local economy, with hundreds of freight cars carrying Rhea County...

05/19/2026

Thank you to the Dayton Tennessee Rotary Club for inviting Jacob Ellis to speak Friday about the history of education in Rhea County from 1807 to 1925. The Historical Society always appreciates opportunities to share and discuss our local history with the community.

05/12/2026

What does it truly mean to be a Tennessean and a proud citizen of Rhea County?

Our newest story takes a look back at the sacrifices, leadership, and enduring spirit that shaped both Tennessee and our local community, from Revolutionary War veteran John Rhea to the generations who helped build the Volunteer State we know today.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, it's more important than ever to remember the people and stories that brought us here.

👉 Check out the full story here: https://www.rheacountyheritage.com/rhea-notes/2026/5/12/johnrhea

From the battlefields of the Revolution to the founding of Rhea County, discover the stories, sacrifices, and enduring spirit that shaped Tennessee into the proud “Volunteer State” we know today.

05/05/2026

In 1980, Bryan College celebrated it's 50th anniversary and featured this dazzling float in the 33rd Annual Tennessee Strawberry Festival. 🍓

Courtesy of the Rhea County Historical Society, Dr. Ted Mercer Collection

04/28/2026

🌸 Join us for Decoration Day at Buttram Cemetery on Sunday, May 3rd as we honor and remember those laid to rest there.

Donations for the upkeep of the cemetery will be accepted at the cemetery on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3. Contributions may also be mailed to:

First Financial Bank
P.O. Box 398
Dayton, TN 37321

Your support helps preserve this sacred place for future generations.

03/13/2026

From frontier log schoolhouses to the classrooms that placed Dayton in the national spotlight during the 1925 Scopes Trial, the story of education in Rhea County is a fascinating journey through more than a century of local history.

Join us for a special presentation exploring how schools in our county developed—from early subscription schools and academies to the growth of public education and institutions like Grandview Normal Institute and Rhea County High School.

If you’re interested in local history, education, or the stories that shaped our community, you won’t want to miss this program.

03/07/2026

Did you know the first medical facility in Rhea County was a sanitarium in Graysville founded in 1907 and modeled after the famous Battle Creek Sanitarium?

Our latest article explores the story of the Graysville Sanitarium and the fascinating history behind early medicine in our community.

👉 Read it here: https://www.rheacountyheritage.com/rhea-notes/graysville-sanitarium

You never know what piece of Rhea County history you might discover next.

02/28/2026

Today, the Rhea County Historical Society is excited to announce the debut of a brand-new feature on our website — our Rhea Notes Blog!

This page will serve as a growing collection of carefully researched articles written by our members. We’ll be featuring new research, selected articles from past editions of Rhea Notes, columns by our County Historian Pat Guffey, and much more. Our goal is simple: to make Rhea County’s history accessible, engaging, and preserved for future generations.

We are proud to serve as the authority on Rhea County history, and this new blog gives us another way to share the stories, records, and research that define our community.

We invite you to read our very first entry — a special Welcome to the Rhea County Historical Society — and follow along as we continue telling the story of our county.

🔗 Read the welcome post here: https://www.rheacountyheritage.com/rhea-notes/welcome-to-the-rhea-county-historical-society

If you value local history, we invite you to join us, support our work, and help preserve the heritage of Rhea County for generations to come.

Our Mission is to discover, collect, preserve and display materials which will help illustrate the rich history and heritage of Rhea County, Tennessee. The Mission will be supported through the museum’s exhibitions and collections of historic three-dimensional objects; the archives’ organized an...

02/14/2026

For generations, the Rhea County Historical Society has been the trusted authority for preserving and interpreting Rhea County’s history. From safeguarding records and artifacts to documenting cemeteries, landmarks, and family histories, RCHS has been the cornerstone of local historical and genealogical research.

The Society operates the Rhea Heritage & Scopes Trial Museum and has played a vital role in preserving the Rhea County Courthouse and interpreting the legacy of the Scopes Trial—while ensuring our broader county history is protected and shared for future generations.

Membership is just $10 per year, and meetings are held bi-monthly in the historic Scopes Trial Courtroom. If you care about Rhea County’s past—and its future—we invite you to be part of the organization that has always led the way.