Presidential inaugurations have been held indoors before due to severe weather, with notable instances in 1985 and 1909.
On January 20, 2017, President-elect Trump announced his inauguration would also be held inside the Capitol Rotunda because of dangerously low temperatures.
Many folks are curious if this is a first for indoor inaugurations. The answer? Nope! It’s happened before.
Reagan’s second inauguration was moved indoors because of a brutal cold snap. The temperature barely hit 17 degrees, with wind chills making it feel even colder.
In fact, back in 1909, Taft’s swearing-in was shifted indoors due to a snowstorm that dumped 10 inches of snow on the city.
Despite the weather, Taft’s parade went on after a massive effort to clear the streets. It took 6,000 workers and 500 wagons to get the job done!
Interestingly, the first outdoor inauguration was in 1817, but Monroe had to take his second oath inside due to a snowstorm.
So, while it’s not common, indoor inaugurations have a history, and they’ve been necessary for various reasons over the years.
