The food at Lincoln’s second inaugural was served at a late hour — late enough that revelers were very hungry.

When the hungry crowd saw oysters, roast beef, veal, turkey, venison, smoked ham, lobster salad, cakes and tarts for the taking, they charged the food table.

In less than an hour, the floor was sticky and stained with slopped stews and fallen jellies after men hoisted full trays above revelers’ heads to carry them back to their friends.

Source: The Smithsonianmag.com