Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, 1861

Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, 1861

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865; Presidents--Inauguration

Photograph of participants and crowd attending the first inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln, at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. Lincoln is standing under the wood canopy, at the front, midway between the left and center posts. His face is in shadow but the white shirt front is visible. (Source: Ostendorf, p. 87) "A distant photograph from a special platform by an unknown photographer, in front of the Capitol, Washington, D.C., afternoon of March 4, 1861. 'A small camera was directly in front of Mr. Lincoln,' reported a newspaper, 'another at a distance of a hundred yards, and a third of huge dimensions on the right ... The three photographers present had plenty of time to take pictures, yet only the distant views have survived." (Source: Ostendorf, p. 86-87) The 1861 inauguration is believed to be the first ever photographed, and some sources credit it to Scottish photographer Alexander Gardner.

United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division

1861-03-04

No known restrictions on publication.

Photograph