The extraordinary level of security around Washington after the January 6 storming of Capitol Hill and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has certainly dampened Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony as he becomes the 46th president of the United States.
But, the more remarkable inaugurations in years gone by easily compare or surpass Mr Biden's pared-back event and were unexpected, tragic or just plain weird.
From taking the oath of office next to a construction site, to 100 canaries freezing to death, here are some of history's most memorable inaugurations.
A political party to remember
1) After Andrew Jackson’s inauguration in March 1829, the new president invited people back to the White House for an open house gathering.
The revelry soon got out of control with a crowd of nearly 20,000 people, many of whom went a little too far with the celebratory beverages.
According to historians, it took a week to clean the White House and the new president had to spend his first night in a hotel.
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The inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States, also present are (from left) Alexander Hamilton, Robert R Livingston, Roger Sherman, Mr Otis, Vice President John Adams, Baron Von Steuben and General Henry Knox, April 30, 1788. Getty Images -
Inauguration of Martin Van Buren in the Senate Chamber, March 4, 1837. Getty Images -
Lithograph of the Presidential inauguration of William Henry Harrison, in Washington, DC on the 4th of March 1841, Washington, DC, 1841. Getty Images -
The Inauguration of President Polk, March 4,1845. Getty Images -
Inauguration of President Lincoln , March 4, 1861. Getty Images -
Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax taking the oath of office administered by Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C, March 4th 1869, before a large crowd. Getty Images -
Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite administering the oath of office to James A. Garfield on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, Washington DC, USA, March 4, 1881. Getty Images -
U.S. President Grover Cleveland in Reviewing Stand in front of the White House during his Inauguration, Washington DC, USA, March 4, 1885. Getty Images -
Chief Justice Melville Weston Fuller Administering Oath of Office to President William McKinley, Former President Grover Cleveland on Right, U.S. Capitol, Washington DC, USA, March 4, 1897. Getty Images -
Washington, DC: General view of the crowds at Washinton, DC for the inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson, March 4, 1913. Getty Images -
American president Calvin Coolidge takes the oath of office at his Inauguration ceremony, Washington, DC. William Howard Taft, Supreme Court Justice and former President, presides over the ceremony. March 4, 1924 Getty Images -
The crowd dances at President Herbert Hoover's inaugural ball at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., U.S. in March 1929. Before the year was over, the Roaring Twenties would come to an end and the Great Depression would begin. Reuters -
Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Inauguration, March 4, 1933. Getty Images -
US President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice President Richard M. Nixon pose for photographers at the reviewing stand for the Inaugural parade in Washington, D.C., USA on January 20, 1953. Reuters -
Back view of President John F. Kennedy and crowd as he gives inaugural speech, January 20, 1961. Getty Images -
Spectators at the Inauguration of President John F. Kennedy on January 20, 1961 in Washington D.C. Getty Images -
President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy as they left the White House to attend a series of inaugural balls. Five locations were booked to hold the tremendous crowd that wanted to attend. The First Lady's dress was designed by Oleg Cassini. January 20, 1961. Getty Images -
Lyndon B. Johnson taking the oath of office aboard Air Force One at Love Field Airport two hours and eight minutes after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Dallas, Texas. Jackie Kennedy still looks on. November 22, 1963. Executive Office of the President of the United States -
Overhead view of the crowd as they watch American President Richard Nixon deliver his inaugural address at a podium in front of the Capitol Building, Washington DC, January 20, 1969. Getty Images -
Screen capture shows American politician Gerald Ford with his right hand raised as he is sworn in as the 38th president of the United States, East Room, White House, Washington, DC, August 9, 1974. Ford replaced Richard Nixon who resigned to avoid a potential impeachment. Getty Images -
President Jimmy Carter makes his inaugural speech after being sworn in on January 20, 1977 on the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. Getty Images -
President-elect Ronald Reagan, Mildred O'Neill, House Speaker Tip O'Neill, Vice President-elect George Bush, Senator Mark Hatfield, unknown, Second Lady Barbara Bush, First Lady Nancy Reagan during the first inauguration of President Ronald Reagan on January 20, 1981 in Washington D.C. Reuters -
At the Lincoln Memorial, US President-Elect George HW Bush and Vice President-Elect Dan Quayle, along with their wives, Barbra Bush and Marilyn Quayle, wave during their inaugural opening ceremony, Washington DC, January 18, 1989. Getty Images -
Inauguration of President of United States, President William Jefferson Clinton, January 20, 1993. Getty Images -
President-elect Bill Clinton shakes hands with singer Michael Jackson as Stevie Nicks of the Fleetwood Mac band sings at the finale of a star-studded gala on the eve of the inauguration at the Capital Center January 19, 1993. Getty Images -
President-elect George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush with Vice-President-elect Dick Cheney and his wife Lynn wave at the Lincoln Memorial at the opening ceremonies of the inauguration in Washington January 18, 2001. Reuters -
U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the inauguration ceremony in Washington January 20, 2009. Reuters -
U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are serenaded by Beyonce in their first dance of the night during the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington January 20, 2009. Reuters -
President-elect Donald J. Trump arrives at the inauguration ceremonies swearing him in as the 45th president of the United States at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 20, 2017. Reuters -
U.S. President Donald Trump takes the oath of office from U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts with his wife Melania, and children Barron, Donald, Ivanka and Tiffany at his side during inauguration ceremonies at the Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017. Reuters
A chilling speech
2) William Henry Harrison's inauguration in 1841 was notable not only for being the longest address on record, coming in at 8,445 words, but also because the president, choosing to not wear a hat, gloves, or coat, caught pneumonia and died 32 days later.
Hollywood horseplay
3) In 1953, President Dwight D Eisenhower was lassoed – with permission from the Secret Service – by California cowboy and rodeo star Montie Montana.
President Eisenhower recalled the episode in his memoir, Mandate for Change.
“A California cowboy, riding a highly trained horse, got clearance from the Secret Service, stopped in front of me and threw a lasso around my shoulders.”
There seemed to be no logical reason for this – Montana simply wanted a high-profile publicity stunt, and because he was a big name in Hollywood, the president obliged.
A tragic ceremony
4) Lyndon B Johnson’s inauguration after John F Kennedy's assassination was the first and only time a president has taken the oath of office on an aircraft.
This was, in many ways, a formality – Johnson was technically the new president as soon as Kennedy was pronounced dead, but Washington was keen to show the world that the transfer of power would be swift.
A sombre occasion with Kennedy's widow present, it was also the first time a woman, North Texas District Judge Sarah Tilghman Hughes, administered the presidential oath.
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For the 1961 inauguration of President Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy commissioned a coat and dress from Hollywood designer Oleg Cassini. She teamed it with a Halston hat and long gloves. Seen here being greeted by outgoing President Eisenhower at the White House in Washington, D.C., on inauguration day, Jan. 20, 1961. (AP Photo) -
President Carter's wife, Rosalyn caused a furore at his inauguration in 1977, when rather than champion American designers, she re-wore a look from six years before. Seen here with President Jimmy Carter, walking in the Presidential Parade, 21 January 1977. AFP -
When her husband Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President in 1981, Nancy Reagan brought her immaculate style to the White House. For the Inauguration Ball, Nancy wore a one shouldered, beaded sheath gown by American designer James Galanos. Seen at President Reagan's swearing in ceremony January 20, 1981. AFP -
President George Bush's wife, Barbara, was better known for her no-nonsense mindset, than for her fashion choices. Determinedly down to earth, her one concession was a rich blue Inaugural Ball gown by Canadian designer Arnold Scaasi. Seen here at the Lincoln Memorial, ahead of her husbands swearing in, January 18, 1989. AFP -
Hillary Clinton wore pink for her husband's second inauguration as US President. Seen here on 20 January 1997. AFP -
For the second swearing in of her husband President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush wore an elegant beaded, white cashmere coat by Oscar de la Renta. Naturally conservative in her dress sense, it was a far cry from the bright red dress she wore to the Inaugural Ball in 2001. Designed by Texan Michael Faircloth, it is rumoured he had to talk her into wearing it. Seen here in 2005, for the signing in of husband's second term of office. AFP -
President Barack Obama wore a tuxedo by US label Hart Schaffner Marx, for his first Inauguration Ball, while his wife Michelle wore a yellow lace coat by Cuban/American designer Isabel Toledo for the daytime swearing-in ceremony, in 2009. Seen here at the 'We Are One" concert, as part of the presidential celebrations, January 18, 2009. AFP -
First Lady Melania Trump wore US brand Ralph Lauren for her husband's swearing in, in a style that alluded to the style of Jackie Kennedy. President Donald Trump, meanwhile often wore boxy Italian Brioni suits, worn open . Seen here at the Inauguration ceremony, January 20, 2017. AP
An early security scare
5) In 1861, with the US on the cusp of civil war, Abraham Lincoln had to be smuggled into Washington for his first inauguration after his bodyguards learnt of an assassination plot against him.
Lincoln safely took the oath of office in front of a partially completed US Capitol building, but was assassinated four years later.
A bad choice of animal
6) In 1873, at the beginning of his second term, Ulysses S Grant ordered canaries for his inauguration as a festive element.
Unfortunately, with the cold temperatures and wind chill, nearly 100 birds froze to death in their cages during the ceremony.
A secret ceremony
7) Fearing violence after a contentious election in 1876, Rutherford B Hayes was inaugurated in secret in the White House.
He later appeared at the Capitol in front of onlookers and was sworn in a second time.
