Photo Via LIFE.com/TIME.com. For images from his inaugural address, head over to LIFE.com.
Thursday marks the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and in commemoration of the date, LIFE is featuring a collection of rare and unseen images from the event.
Whether it’s stunning photos from the gala or beautiful shots of Jackie battling the weather (it was storming that day, yet she’s still beaming), the images wonderfully capture the excitement and momentousness of the day.
For the whole gallery (including one of our favorites–a shot of a “Buffalo Bill character clowning on a bison”) head over to LIFE’s gallery.