Inauguration Day: Past and Present

View of the front of the United States capitol building.

This Friday, January 20, 2017 will mark the Inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump.

Inauguration Day has a rich history of attendance, celebratory events, and even weather.  Some interesting facts include:

  • The shortest inaugural address was that of George Washington, concluding at just 135 words.
  • It rained all day during Benjamin Harrison's 1889 inauguration, and he ended up taking oath of office during a downpour under an umbrella.
  • The first inauguration to be filmed was William McKinley's in 1901.

For more information on the history and practice behind Inauguration Day, check out the Government Information collection or see the exhibit in the lobby at Wells Library.