This Tiny Town Made Tennessee History – And You’ll Never Guess How It Celebrates Now

The Scopes Trial put Dayton, Tennessee on the map when it ignited a debate that sent the United States into an evolution inspired tailspin. It was the first bout of court induced questioning that put the state current religious legislature into question, and Tennessee has never been the same since. Curious about how Dayton honors the events that gave the small town new life? Take a look!

John Scopes made history in July of 1925 when he continued to teach evolution in the high school classroom he substitute taught, igniting the largely religious town of Dayton into a firestorm.

He was in violation of the Butler Act, which made it illegal to teach evolution in any state-funded school. Creationism was accepted completely at the time, and Scopes pushed for the expansive and, at the time, cutting edge ideology of human evolution.

The case ran from July 10th to the 21st, 1925, ending with a guilty verdict for Scopes. The finding was later overturned, as was the Butler Act.

It was a wildfire of the mind versus the heart. Morality and science took a jab at one another and gave the nation something to think about. And now? The town of Dayton celebrates with the Scopes Trial Play & Festival every year.

There are exhibits and vendors, a reenactment of the famous trial itself and tons of events and activities that dot the yearly schedule.

The trial caused thought and speculation throughout the rest of the 20th century, the prolific battle between church and science still a wild question and notorious Thanksgiving debate topic.

Get some more info on the actual case, here - and if you want to visit Dayton for the Scopes Trial Festival? You can check out their site here, and buy tickets for July 23rd-24th.