Shannon Thomas Perich

For over two centuries, people have witnessed in awe the Inauguration ceremonies of the President and Vice President of the United States. Join Smithsonian experts as they share historical facts, stories, and connections with museum objects that that surround these events — from the first Inauguration of George Washington to the upcoming Inauguration of Barack Obama. These interactive sessions will give you a deeper appreciation for this quadrennial occasion and its place in history, whether you take part in the 57^th Inauguration as an eyewitness in Washington, D.C., or as a spectator from home.

Photographs of the inauguration document this important American event, but they also tell us something about the participants.  We will examine a number of photographs, including one from Lincoln’s second inauguration and several from the 2008 inauguration, to better understand our roles as viewers, participants, and picture-takers.

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