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100 Year Anniversary of the Scopes Monkey Trial

WSIU Public Broadcasting | By Brian Sapp
Published July 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM CDT
Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan at the John Scopes Monkey Trial.
Photo taken of Clarence Darrow (left) and William Jennings Bryan (right) during the Scopes Trial in 1925.

100 years ago, in Dayton, Tennessee on July 12th, William Jennings Bryan faced off against Clarence Darrow for the “Scopes Monkey Trial”. Bryan was from Salem Illinois and was a lawyer who was a three time Democratic nominee for president. He also served as Secretary of State for President Woodrow Wilson. But one of the more memorable events in his life is when he took part in the Scopes Monkey Trial in Dayton, Tennessee.

There will be a re-enactment of the trial July 12th from 10 to 3 at Bryan Memorial Park in Salem. I talked with Salem City Councilman Jim Koehler about this weekend's event remembering Bryan.

For more information visit the group's Facebook page: 100 Years After Scopes Celebration
History
Brian Sapp
Brian Sapp joined the WSIU News team in January 2025. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University.
See stories by Brian Sapp
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