Present-day inaugural preparations are everywhere in our Capital City using high ranking military escorts and civilian dignitaries to do dry runs in formal attire to make a perfect swearing–in ceremony as possible.
The ceremony will be perfect, but security will always be an issue for any President even our 44th President re-elected Barack Obama soon to be sworn in for a second term in office as America and the world watches.
In the evening of March 6, 1865, our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, was sworn-in earlier that day on the Capital steps; however, with the Civil War finally winding down, President Lincoln seemed to be looking forward to a wonderful evening at his inauguration celebration with his wife.
The Lincoln’s Inaugural Invitation read … “The honor of company was requested by President Lincoln and Vice President Andrew Johnson through this paper invitation to the National Inauguration Ball.” Engraved by Demsey & O’Toole.
Admission for admittance was a $10 ticket along with the formal invitation, which admitted “one gentleman and two ladies” to his second inaugural ball. Tragedy struck only six weeks after the Inauguration, when President Lincoln was assassinated at nearby Ford’s Theatre.
President Lincoln’s Inaugural Ball took place at the US Patent Office; however less than a year prior to Lincoln’s Inauguration, the patient office still served as a hospital for wounded Union soldiers. The former Patent Office is known today as the Smithsonian American Art Museum / a history.
The behind the scenes curators are creating the “Making of the National Museum of American History's First Ladies exhibition,” featuring Michelle Obama's inaugural gown designed by Jason Wu.
The Lincoln inauguration invitation is currently on display in the Smithsonian’s collection. This artifact can currently be found in the “American Presidency” exhibition at the National Museum of American History.
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