House Joint Resolution 289, sponsored by Representative Travis, commemorates the centennial of the Scopes Trial, a pivotal legal case that took place in Dayton, Tennessee, in July 1925. The trial arose from the Tennessee General Assembly's passage of the Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in schools. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offered to represent John T. Scopes, a local science teacher accused of violating this law, leading to a highly publicized trial that featured prominent figures such as Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan. The trial highlighted the tension between faith and science during a time of increasing secularism and ultimately resulted in Scopes's conviction, which reinforced anti-evolution sentiments across the nation.

The resolution reflects on the lasting impact of the Scopes Trial on American society, noting that it not only shaped public discourse around evolution and education but also drew significant media attention to Tennessee. Despite the trial's outcome, the ACLU's appeal led to a reversal of Scopes's conviction on a technicality, although the Butler Act remained in effect for decades. The resolution emphasizes the importance of this historical event in understanding the ongoing struggle to reconcile faith and science in contemporary culture, and it calls for recognition of Tennessee's unique contributions to American history.