PHOTOS from the inauguration of Wes Moore and Aruna Miller

Sherrilyn Ifill, former president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, delivered remarks Wednesday at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial at Annapolis City Dock ahead of the inauguration of Wes Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D), on the left, former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R), on the right, and Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D) share a laugh in Annapolis before the inauguration of Gov. Wes Moore. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, the second Black man to ever be elected governor in the United States; Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott; and 2018 Maryland Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous, share a laugh during a pre-inaugural event in Annapolis. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Rev. Carletta Allen, pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Annapolis, offered a prayer during a ceremony that recalled the memory of enslaved Africans brought to America through the city’s dock. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Lady Brion performs during a pre-inaugural wreath-laying ceremony at the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial at Annapolis City Dock on Wednesday. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Wes Moore applauds a performer at a pre-inaugural event in Annapolis on Wednesday. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Frédéric Yonnet performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during a wreath-laying ceremony at Annapolis City Dock on Wednesday ahead of the swearing-in of Wes Moore as Maryland’s first Black governor. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Gov.-elect Wes Moore (D), with his son, James, along with Lt. Gov.-elect Aruna Miller (D), Dawn Flythe Moore and David Miller attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Annapolis City Dock before his inauguration as Maryland’s 63rd governor Wednesday morning. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Karen Bethea, senior pastor of Set the Captives Free Outreach Center in Baltimore County, prays during a pre-inaugural event in Annapolis. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Members of a small crowd who were on hand for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial in Annapolis hold out their hands in blessings for the families of Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D). Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Wes Moore raises his hand and embraces his son, James, during a prayer at a memorial ceremony at the Kunta Kinta-Alex Haley Memorial in Annapolis on Wednesday. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

A woman raises her hand to offer blessings during the benediction prayer at a ceremony honoring Maryland’s Black history ahead of the inauguration of Wes Moore on Wednesday. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Wes Moore looks at his wife, Dawn Flythe Moore, as they walk up Main Street in Annapolis toward the State House before Moore’s swearing-in as Maryland’s first Black governor on Wednesday. Their daughter, Mia, is to Moore’s left. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Wes Moore and Dawn Flythe Moore embrace on Main Street in Annapolis as they walk with their family to the governor’s mansion ahead of Moore’s swearing-in as Maryland’s first Black governor on Wednesday. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) and first lady Dawn Flythe Moore are introduced at the governor’s inauguration on Wednesday. Moore is the first Black person to hold the post in state history. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

A program for the inauguration of Wes Moore sits on a folding chair Wednesday. About 5,000 chairs were placed along Lawyers’ Mall and Bladen Street for historic event. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

A student from Calvert School reads the program ahead of Gov. Wes Moore’s inauguration on Wednesday. Children from the school, which is attended by the Moore children, had dedicated seating and cheered enthusiastically when they saw their classmates arrive on stage. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

James Moore, son of Gov. Wes Moore and first lady Dawn Flythe Moore, leads the crowd in the pledge of allegiance during his father’s inaugural ceremony. The father and son shared a secret handshake after the pledge. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Meena, Chloe and Sasha Miller introduce their mother, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, during Wednesday’s inauguration ceremony. Miller is the first woman of color to be elected lieutenant governor in Maryland and the first woman of South Asian descent elected to the position in the United States. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D). Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Bowie Mayor Tim Adams (D) holds a child as they watch the inauguration ceremony for Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D). Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

An attendee films Oprah Winfrey’s introduction of Wes Moore during the inauguration of Maryland’s 63 governor and first Black chief executive. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Oprah Winfrey introduced Gov. Wes Moore (D) during inaugural festivities in Annapolis on Wednesday. “I know that, with Wes Moore as your governor, Maryland’s best days lie ahead,” she said. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) delivered his inaugural address as Maryland’s 63rd governor — and the state’s first Black chief executive — on Wednesday, pledging to throw open the doors of opportunity to all. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

As he entered the governor’s mansion following his inaugural, Gov. Wes Moore (D) offered impromptu remarks and posed for photos with students from Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys. “You’re never in a room where you don’t belong,” Moore told them. “Continue to lead.” Photo by Bruce DePuyt.