But the tradition of making a statement through clothing goes back to 1912, when Helen Taft donated her gown from the inaugural ball to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Luckily, Helen Taft made sure that her gowns stayed intact for their later inclusion into the Smithsonian Collection. Her 1909 inauguration gown was made of white silk chiffon and accented with ...

On a blustery March 4, 1841, on the East Portico of the Capitol, William Henry Harrison gave the longest inaugural address in ...