On March 4, 1881, James A. Garfield became the first president to celebrate his inauguration in a Smithsonian building. The festivities were also the first event held in the new Arts and Industries Building, (then known as the National Museum Building), before it opened to the public.

The statue of America, in the National Museum Building with an electric torch in her hand, indicative of the skill, genius, progress, and civilization of the nineteenth century. (Photo: Smithsonian Institution Archives)

The East Hall of the National Museum Building, with temporary wooden flooring installed for President Garfield's inaugural celebration. Note the initials of James Garfield and Vice President Chester A. Arthur on the walls near the rotunda. (Photo: Smithsonian Institution Archives)

In 1969, President and Mrs. Richard Nixon on a stage beneath the Star Spangled Banner in the National Museum of American History are introduced to the audience. (Photo: Smithsonian Institution Archives by Richard Hofmeister)

In 1981, President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan stand at a podium in the rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History. In this view, musicians stand to the President's left. (Photo: Smithsonian Institution Archives by Kim Nielsen)

In 1989, President and Mrs. George Bush stand at the podium of their inaugural ball held at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The museum's famous Wright Flyer hangs from the ceiling to the left of the photo. (Smithsonian Photo by Dale Hrabak)

President and Mrs. Clinton celebrate at his 1993 Inaugural ball. (Smithsonian Inaugural Photo #300/28a by Jeff Tinsley)