George Washington was inaugurated as the first U.S. president on April 30, 1789, a milestone before America250.
The ceremony took place on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. Robert R. Livingston, chancellor of New York, administered the presidential oath, while Vice President John Adams and members of Congress attended.
The Constitution had set March 4, 1789, as the start of the new federal government, but logistical delays prevented Washington from taking office that day. Congress needed time to assemble, count the electoral votes, and notify Washington at Mount Vernon.
Washington’s inauguration began the executive branch under the Constitution. The date is sometimes confused with March 4, which marked the legal beginning of the first presidential term, or with later inauguration traditions that generally occurred in January.