TRAVERSE CITY -- Hundreds of people watched the history-making moment on the big screen. Nearly 600 people packed the State Theatre in Traverse City lining up outside around 9 a.m.

From Washington D.C. to Traverse City hundreds of people stopped and watched to witness history in the making. "It's a great historic day for our country this day will never happen again this is the only time there'll be the first African American inaugurated," said film-maker Michael Moore.

"I never thought in a million years we'd have an African American president," said Lamarcus Byrd who watched the inauguration. "It's just an unbelievable day I've been looking forward to this for a long time," said Johanna Schmidt who watched the inauguration.

And at the State Theatre crowds filled all of the 550 seats plus the dozens more that were watching from the isles-- they all were waiting anxiously to see what has never been done before.  From people watching an inauguration for the first time...."It's such a big moment we'll always remember it," said 12 year old Molly Smith.  To those who had witnessed several...."Harry Truman, Eisenhower, Nixon, Kennedy," said Ron Lang, who's on his 11th inauguration viewing.

But it was something they say they were waiting for and when the moment finally arrived and the first African-American took the Oath. There were cheers hugs and tears.

"I'm excited words just can't describe how I feel," said Chris Smith who watched the inauguration.  "Oh my god incredibly moving I was crying," Maria Perez-Bastian who watched the inauguration.

And for some its a new meaning that's breaking barriers. "It just removed that glass ceiling for everybody everybody now can have the opportunity to be whatever they want," said Perez-Bastian.

And it's giving some new found hope..."I'm just very proud to be an American and that's why I wanted to bring my son to experience the excitement and that Barack Obama is going to change," Sue Bolde who watched the inauguration.

But young or old, black or white and for many it's just a time to embrace this moment in history.