Inaugurations Past, Present and Future

1989 Presidential Inauguration, George H. W. Bush, Opening Ceremonies, Capitol, Swearing In

Clinton Inauguration - Swearing-in Ceremony

Wilson and Taft at Inauguration (LOC)

Inauguration, 1913 (LOC)

Photography makes history. Today, the Smithsonian Institution added historic inauguration photos to the Commons on Flickr, including photos from several of the most recent US Presidential Inaugurations including President Clinton and President Bush Sr. These photos join a selection of historic photos from the 1913 Inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson, from the Bain News Service photo collection in the Library of Congress. See more Commons photos tagged “Inauguration”.

If you captured moments from this year’s inauguration or election, or have some from years’ past, please consider submitting a photo to be considered for click! photography changes everything, a Smithsonian Photography Initiative online program that explores how photography shapes the way we understand the world. The current call for entry, ‘History in the Making,’ looks at how photography has influenced the recent elections and inauguration.

Photos by Library of Congress and Smithsonian Institution.