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Photos: Inaugurations through the years

This drawing depicts George Washington arriving in New York by barge on his inauguration day on April 30, 1789. The nation’s first president took his oath of ofiice on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street. (AP Photo)
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President George Washington delivers his inaugural address in the Senate Chamber of Old Federal Hall in New York on April 30, 1789.  (AP Photo)
Andrew Jackson seventh president of the United States, in an 1829 depiction takes an extra horse with him as he starts off for his inauguration. (AP Photo)
This artist's rendition shows the crush of people after President Andrew Jackson's inaugural ceremony, held on the East Portico of the Capitol building for the first time, in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 1829.  Following the inaugural proceedings, more than 20,000 well-wishers came to the White House to meet President Jackson.  (AP Photo)
Depicted in this illustration, the inauguration of William Henry Harrison in Washington on March 4, 1841. Harrison was 68-years-old when he took office. Hatless and without an overcoat he rode horseback from the White House to the Capitol on a wintry day and stood for an hour in a raw wind while delivering his inaugural address. A month later he died of pneumonia. The artist’s conception of the inauguration included some light finery which hardly matched the weather of the day. (AP Photo)
This is an artist's impression of President William Henry Harrison's inauguration in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 1841.  Harrison declined the offer of a closed carriage and rode on horseback to the Capitol, braving cold temperatures and a northeast wind. After speaking for more than an hour, he returned to the White House on horseback, catching a chill that eventually turned to pneumonia. He died a month later.  (AP Photo)
This artist's rendition shows the crush of people after President Andrew Jackson's inaugural ceremony, held on the East Portico of the Capitol building for the first time, in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 1829.  Following the inaugural proceedings, more than 20,000 well-wishers came to the White House to meet President Jackson.  (AP Photo)
March 14, 2025 | WTOP's Mike Murillo looks at past inaugurations with former parade announcer Charlie Brotman (WTOP Staff)

Presidential inaugurations have been documented since George Washington made his inaugural address in New York in 1789. See photos of inaugurations through the years.

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