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Barack Obama was always going to have a place in history as the first African-American president. That's no small feat given the nation's peculiar past. But achieving what other Democratic presidents couldn't fueled deep divisions within the country and set the table for a second term with daunting challenges.

By the time he is through with his inauguration on Monday, President Obama will have taken the presidential oath four times. In 2009, he had to do it twice after some stumbles between him and Chief Justice John Roberts. But as history shows us, his oath was not the first to suffer a few mishaps.

With just a couple of days before President Obama receives his second inaugural parade, weekends on All Things Considered host Jacki Lyden speaks with James Fallows of The Atlantic about whether we can expect Obama's second term to fall into the same patterns as previous second-term presidents. Historically, the second term has an emphasis on foreign policy and is often riddled with scandal.

Gearing up for inaugural weekend balls often means getting ready to stand in lots of lines for some not-so-awesome food. But if you want to say goodbye to the rubber chicken brigade, these foodcentric inaugural balls might be a better bet.

From a cowboy lassoing the president to a giant peanut balloon, here's a look at some unusual inauguration moments.

Explore a gallery of history-making moments from inaugurations past, the back story of the oath of office and a look at first ladies' gowns through the years.

Hundreds of thousands of people are participating in volunteer activities nationwide in honor of President Obama's second inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. But with budgets tightening and volunteerism stagnant, nonprofits hope they'll get a more permanent boost.

Writers for past presidents say President Obama must be visionary and inclusive but also realistic in his second inaugural address. And many of the usual speechwriting crutches are off-limits: no jokes, no statistics and no funny quotes.

Post-election pomp and circumstance seem to be in our national DNA, but there have been some low-key inaugurals, including during the Great Depression and World War II. With a looming fiscal cliff, is this the time for a simple swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 21, rather than another megamillion-dollar blowout?

Every four years in January, Washington plays host to the country's biggest "prom." Inaugural balls bring out happy winners, administration bigwigs and a gown — on the first lady — that will become part of history. A Smithsonian exhibition displays some of those gowns.