Donald Trump's swearing-in today was the 58th formal presidential inaugural ceremony since 1789, when US' first president George Washington was inaugurated.
In all, US presidents have been sworn into office 70 times -- usually in public, sometimes in private following the death or resignation of a president, or because Inauguration Day fell on a Sunday.
Notably, the US Senate oversaw the first 28 inaugurations of both the president and the vice president. But it was on February 4, 1901, that Senate approved a concurrent resolution to create a Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC).
The Senate and House of Representatives then appointed members on February 5, 1901. Since then, all inaugural ceremonies at the US Capitol have been organised by JCCIC.
However, a separate inaugural committee, appointed by the president-elect, has the responsibility of all official inaugural events, other than those held at the Capitol Hill.
The military also plays a role with the Joint Task Force- National Capital Region, which coordinates all military participation and support for the inaugural ceremonies.
Although US Constitution specified that the oath is taken by the President, its framers provided that Congress would determine when and where the inauguration would take place.
America's interests in the inauguration has grown over the decades. By late 1820s, what had typically been a small, indoor ceremony moved outdoors, allowing more people to witness this important event first hand.
By the end of 19th century, the presidential inauguration evolved into an elaborate day-long event, marked by parades, fireworks, luncheons, and glamorous Inaugural Balls.
According to schedule, vice president-elect Mike Pence was sworn in first, followed by Trump and the JCCIC hosted a Congressional luncheon for them. Nearly 200 guests including members of their families, the Supreme Court, Cabinet designees, and members of Congressional leadership are believed to have attended the ceremony in Statuary Hall.
In 1789, first US President George Washington dined alone after his inauguration, but in the modern era, the JCCIC has hosted a luncheon at the Capitol after the ceremonies.
Traditionally, after the newly elected president has taken the oath and delivered his inaugural address, he is escorted to Statuary Hall in the US Capitol for the inaugural luncheon.
As the 20th century progressed, White House luncheons have become elaborate.
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In 1945, President Franklin D Roosevelt hosted more than 2,000 guests in what was the last White House post-inaugural luncheon.
In 1949, Secretary of Senate Leslie Biffle hosted a small lunch for President Harry S Truman in his Capitol reception room. They dined on South Carolina turkey, Smithfield Ham, potato salad, and pumpkin pie.
In 1953, JCCIC began its current tradition of hosting a luncheon for president, vice president and their spouses, Senate leaders, and other guests by holding an inaugural luncheon for Dwight D Eisenhower in the Old Senate Chamber.
Since then, JCCIC has organised a luncheon celebration at 14 presidential inaugurations. During the inaugural luncheon, it is traditional for the president and vice president to be presented with gifts by the Congress on behalf of the American people.
The president and vice-president will each be presented with a framed official photograph taken of their swearing-in ceremony by a Senate photographer, as well as flags flown over the US Capitol during the inaugural ceremonies.
For the 8th consecutive inauguration, Lenox Corporation has created the official inaugural gifts from the American people, given to the new president and the vice president.
After their swearing-in, President Trump and Vice President Michael Pence will be presented with custom-made, one-of-a-kind engraved crystal vases at the luncheon.
The presidential crystal bowl shows an image of the White House on one side overlooking the Jefferson Memorial on the opposite side. The vice presidential crystal bowl depicts the US Capitol building overlooking the Lincoln Memorial on the other side.
Each bowl has a compass rose cut into the base with the points of the compass aligned correctly with the buildings etched into the crystal.
The bowls are made of lead crystal and are 12 inches across, and will be placed on top of black cherry wood bases that bear an inscription of the date and occasion engraved into silver plaques. After Congressional luncheon the new President and the First Lady would participate in a parade to the White House, a relatively new tradition.
Eisenhower's 1957 inauguration included close to 9,000 military personnel. President John F Kennedy's 1961 inaugural parade had more than 15,000 military and civilian personnel and took more than three hours to pass the reviewing stand.
During the 2009 presidential inauguration, President Barack Obama became the first African-American US President with the attendance of approximately 1.2 million people.
In 2013, there were 8,917 total parade participants. There also were 1,580 military members, who made up the "street cordon" to line the 3,856-yard-long parade route to render honours to the Commander-in-Chief as he passes from the Capitol to the White House in 2013.
