The Rhea County courthouse is the site of the infamous Scopes "Monkey" Trial of 1925. While the trial has been thoroughly researched, there is relatively little about the history of the courthouse itself. For a class in state and local history, I researched the architectural history of the Rhea County Courthouse. I was able to explore the archive at the courthouse and work with the local archivist to find the original plans for the courthouse. With those plans and newspaper articles, I was able to piece together a history of the construction of the courthouse which was added to a larger development report.
For the full report, click here.
