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1849 Inauguration of President Zachary Taylor

Historic Newspaper report of "enormous price" of $10 Inaugural Ball Tickets with a listing of the menu items

California Gold Rush Transport Advertisements

    How times have changed! This complete historic newspaper, the Daily Morning Star (New London, CT)  for February 20, 1849, reports on the outrageous ticket prices ("ten dollars cash") for the Inaugural Ball for newly elected President General Zachary Taylor.  The ticket price which the article characterizes as "enormous" and "Republicanism with a vengeance" entitled the bearer to a sumptuous repast documented in the article, including Terrapins, Charlotte Russe and Roman punch.  Those congregating in Washington, D.C. for the 2009 Inauguration of Barack Obama, some of whom were reported to have gotten good tickets for raising $50,000 for the festivities, would love to have such a bargain as was deemed excessive in 1849.

    Zachary Taylor was a member of the Whig Party, as was Abraham Lincoln (then at the end of his one term as Congressman from Illinois) and Robert E. Lee, an Army Colonel.  Both were named as managers of the Taylor inauguration and later were historic adversaries.

    1849 was also the time of the famous California gold rush, and the newspaper gives plenty of evidence of the frenzy to get to California to share in the riches.  Below is a picture of two of the front page advertisements for sailing vessels leaving for California from New London, Connecticut.

The newspaper is complete in four pages, the front page of which is shown below.

Price: $45

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