Images of Inaugurations of the 1800s

The history of presidential inaugurations did not begin in the 1800s, as George Washington and John Adams were sworn in as presidents before the century began. But modern inaugurations are deeply rooted in 19th century practices.

With the city of Washington expecting the largest crowd ever for an inauguration in January, and millions of Americans clamoring for exceedingly rare tickets, it's a good time to contemplate images showing how the cherished traditions developed.

Andrew Jackson's 1829 inauguration was the first public inauguration held outside the Capitol. The clamor to attend was intense, and frenzied crowds nearly trampled the new president. Later that day the raucous crowd at a reception at the Executive Mansion nearly destroyed what we now call the White House.

Perhaps the most poignant inauguration ever was Lincoln's second, in the closing weeks of the Civil War. The weary president was photographed as he called for reconciliation with the legendary phrase, "With malice toward none, with charity for all..."

The poet Walt Whitman attended, and wrote a dispatch for the New York Times noting that after several days of heavy rain the sun had come out just as Lincoln began his speech.

Also attending that day, having received a ticket from a senator's daughter who was enamored with him, was the noted actor John Wilkes Booth.

Image: Lincoln taking the oath of office, March 4, 1865, as depicted in Harper's Weekly/Library of Congress