For the first time in 54 years, the Cuban flag is streaming above its embassy in the United States.

A huge crowd gathered outside the embassy on 16th Street in Columbia Heights for the morning flag raising. Three Cuban soldiers hoisted the banner while the national anthem played in a ceremony led by the Cuban foreign minister.

Awaiting the raising of Cuba’s flag for first time in 54 years outside Cuban Embassy in DC #cbc pic.twitter.com/hB1hL6q89h

— Paul Hunter (@paulhuntercbc) July 20, 2015

New era in ties begins as Cuba raises flag at U.S. embassy http://t.co/x1q4i51E8c pic.twitter.com/DvshWZHQra

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) July 20, 2015

Despite the generally celebratory mood outside the Cuban embassy, at least one protester was detained after heading for the gate splattered with fake blood. The anti-war group Code Pink also staged a protest.

Following #Cuba flag raising in DC, man detained after charging gate in protest using fake blood. pic.twitter.com/qNj7TCgnY3

— M. Scott Mahaskey (@smahaskey) July 20, 2015

Code Pink protestors outside the #Cuba embassy #voaalert pic.twitter.com/WkVRLlq3Sb

— Katherine Gypson (@kgyp) July 20, 2015

Full diplomatic relations between the two nations were restored at midnight and the Cuban flag had already been hung alongside the other flags at the State Department without fanfare earlier in the morning, the Associated Press reported. Meanwhile, the Cuban and American Interests Sections in the respective capitals also both made the switch on Twitter, officially changing their accounts to the Embajada EE.UU. Cuba (@USEmbCuba) and EmbaCuba_EEUU (@EmbaCubaUS).

Check change of profile at @SeccionCubaUS. We are now @EmbaCubaUS.

— EmbaCuba_EEUU (@EmbaCubaUS) July 20, 2015

Although the U.S. embassy is open for the first time ever in Havana, the flag won’t be raised until John Kerry visits the island nation next month.

Just made first phone call to State Dept. Ops Center from United States Embassy Havana ever. It didn’t exist in Jan 1961.

— Conrad Tribble (@conradtribble) July 20, 2015