Past U.S. Inaugurations, revealed in 45 historic photos

In only a few weeks, the United States’ forty-fifth president will be sworn in on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. This tradition has persisted since 1789 when George Washington was inaugurated.

For those interested in taking a step back in time, Curbed has compiled a total of 45 photos from the Library of Congress, showcasing the national tradition. Not every president was found in the archives, so expect a few gaps in time.

Below, in the photo gallery, get a glimpse at what previous Inaugurations looked like.

Grid View

• George Washington
• Andrew Jackson
• William Henry Harrison
• James K. Polk
• Zachary Taylor
• James Buchanan
• Abraham Lincoln (left) and James Buchanan (right)
• Abraham Lincoln
• Abraham Lincoln
• Abraham Lincoln
• Ulysses S. Grant
• Ulysses S. Grant
• Ulysses S. Grant
• Rutherford B. Hayes
• James A. Garfield
• James A. Garfield
• James A. Garfield
• James A. Garfield
• Grover Cleveland
• Grover Cleveland
• Benjamin Harrison
• Grover Cleveland
• William McKinley
• William McKinley
• William McKinley
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Woodrow Wilson
• Woodrow Wilson
• Warren G. Harding
• Calvin Coolidge
• Calvin Coolidge
• Herbert Hoover
• Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Harry S. Truman
• John F. Kennedy
• Lyndon B. Johnson
• Richard Nixon
• Richard Nixon
• Ronald Reagan
• George H. W. Bush
• Bill Clinton
• Barack Obama
• Michelle Obama (left), Barack Obama (center left), George W. Bush (center right), and Laura Bush (right)