The small Dayton courthouse became one of the most famous scenes in history with the 1925 Scopes Trial.  The trial pitted the three-time presidential candidate and famous creationist, William Jennings Bryan, against a well-known criminal lawyer, Clarence Darrow, and the ACLU in a test of the Tennessee anti-evolution law of the day.  Local teacher, John T. Scopes, became the scapegoat in this epic eight day battle of legal drama.  The trial attracted over 200 journalists and became one of the world’s most famous court trials.

The Scopes Trial remains one of the most intriguing episodes in American history.  In 1977 the National Park Service designated the courthouse as a National Historic Landmark and over one million dollars were spent in a restoration project.

Nine of the original trees that witnessed this epic event still survive within the courthouse lawn.  These 90 year old trees are living reminders of the need to properly maintain and protect our national and state heritage.

Nominated by Dr. Richard Cornelius of Bryan College.

Entered into the Landmark & Historic Tree Register in 2007 as Historic Trees.