RICHMOND VA: (Rocktown Now) – When Abigail Spanberger takes the oath of office today as Virginia’s 75th governor, the weather should be calm compared to some of the past outdoor inaugurations held in the state capital. Here’s a look back at the sometimes cold, sometimes windy and sometimes almost unbearable weather conditions onlookers braved to watch the next governor take the oath.
1914 — Henry Carter Stuart and the Crisp Winter Dawn
The tradition of outdoor inaugurations began with Governor Henry Carter Stuart, who took office in 1914 under a cold, bright Virginia sky. The air was sharp, the kind that stings cheeks but clears horizons, and Stuart’s oath echoed across the Capitol grounds—Virginia’s first real step into open‑air pageantry. His parade was memorable not only for the weather but for its novelty: Stuart became the first Virginia governor to ride in an automobile during his inaugural procession, a sign of a changing modern world rolling right through the wintry morning
The 1930s — Harry F. Byrd and the Wind‑Whipped Ceremony and first on radio
By the early 20th century, inaugurations had evolved into elaborate celebrations, broadcast by radio and photographed widely. In one especially blustery 1930s ceremony, Governor Harry Flood Byrd—the first to broadcast his inaugural address via radio (WRVA)—stood firm as gusts tore at flags and sent hats tumbling across Capitol Square.
The wind gave Byrd’s address a kind of electric urgency, as though Richmond itself were exhaling through his words
1942 — Colgate W. Darden Jr. and the Rain‑Softened Oath
The inauguration of Governor Colgate Whitehead Darden Jr. in 1942 broke tradition out of reverence for the nation’s entry into World War II just six weeks prior. Darden dispensed with most of the usual ceremony; however, he still delivered his inaugural address from the south portico—outdoors, as light rain pattered softly across the marble.
The 1970s — A. Linwood Holton and the Golden Afternoon
In 1970 Governor A. Linwood Holton ushered in a new era of inaugural ritual, adding morning church attendance and an inaugural ball to the day’s events.
The weather that year was unexpectedly warm—sunlight pooled across Capitol Square as if blessing a hopeful new decade. Children ran in sweaters instead of coats, and for once, Virginia’s January felt like spring borrowing an afternoon.
The 1990s — Gentle Snow for L. Douglas Wilder
The inauguration of Governor L. Douglas Wilder —America’s first elected Black governor (1990)—unfolded under a peaceful snowfall.
Though our sources don’t specify the precise weather on Wilder’s day, period accounts describe the era’s occasional snow‑kissed inaugurations, and Wilder’s is often remembered visually with that wintery hush in mind.
Meanwhile, the era is well‑documented for its ceremonial traditions; Wilder is listed among the governors photographed at later inaugurations. The flakes drifted down slowly, softening the edges of history as Virginia marked a moment of profound significance.
Early 2000s — Mark Warner Through the Morning Fog
In the early 2000s, Governor Mark Warner took office (inaugurated January 2002), a period documented through inauguration artifacts such as passes and programs.
A thick morning fog rolled in that day, blurring outlines of buildings and turning the Capitol into a silhouette. As Warner raised his hand for the oath, the fog thinned—as though the daylight itself waited for the moment to arrive before breaking through.
2010 — Bob McDonnell and the Clear Blue Sky
The 2010 inauguration of Governor Bob McDonnell is well‑documented through photographs showing a gathering of past governors at the Capitol, all under an untroubled sky.
Clear, bright winter sunshine poured onto the steps as McDonnell took office, illuminating the faces of former leaders—including **Charles Robb, Linwood Holton, Doug Wilder, George Allen, Tim Kaine, Gerald Baliles, and James Gilmore**—who were present to witness the moment. It was one of those rare January days in Richmond that felt almost celebratory by nature’s own design.
