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Scenic Roots

In Dayton, A Centennial Season For This Year’s Scopes Festival

WUTC | By Ray Bassett
Published June 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM EDT
A scene from “Destiny in Dayton” - performed at the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton.
Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation
A scene from “Destiny in Dayton” - performed at the Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton.

It happened in July a hundred years ago in Dayton: The Scopes Trial.

John Scopes, a high school teacher, went on trial in the Rhea County Courthouse - accused of violating a Tennessee law that barred the teaching of evolution in public schools.

This July, Dayton will mark the trial’s centennial with its annual Scopes Festival - featuring “Destiny in Dayton,” a play staged in the courthouse where the actual trial was held.

Rick Dye is president of the Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation.

Scopes 100 banner.
Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation
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Scenic Roots
Ray Bassett
Ray is the host and producer of Scenic Roots, Mondays - Thursdays at 3 PM on WUTC.
See stories by Ray Bassett
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