Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, 2009, will be the 65th inauguration of a United States president. Tickets are FREE! But they only are distributed by U.S. congressional Representatives and Senators.
Below you will find links to 2009 inauguration information, travel tips and fun inauguration facts.
Own pieces of history
Order now: Get a copy of The N&O's special Inauguration Edition, with a special section about Barack Obama's history-making win. Reserve your copy on the upcoming January 21 edition here.
Order the "Obama Wins" poster below here.
Buy images of Barack Obama from election night here.
Buy images of Obama on the campaign trail in NC here.
Buy images from the 'Obama Retrospective' gallery here.
Buy images of John McCain on the campaign trail here.
Buy images of Sarah Palin on the campaign trail in NC here.
Order the "Obama" special section image here.
Dear Mr. President-elect: What would you say to Barack Obama as he prepares to take office? Click here.
Forum: What does Barack Obama's accomplishment mean to you? Join the discussion on his run to the White House here.
Stories: Read the latest stories about the inauguration here.
Share photos: If you are attending any inauguration celebrations or have other photos of Obama, post them here.
Play the "Words to Remember" game and try to guess which former president said what in their speeches. Click here.
- Official 2009 Inauguration homepage
- Obama Inauguration 2009
- The theme of the 2009 inauguration is "A New Birth of Freedom." The theme commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, and the title's words are taken from his Gettysburg Address.
- You must contact a member of the 111th Congress for inauguration tickets. Senators representing North Carolina are Richard Burr (who is no longer taking ticket requests) and Kay Hagan. U.S. House Representatives from the Triangle area are David Price, Bob Ethridge, and Brad Miller.
- The inaugural platform is built from scratch each inauguration. See construction photos as it is built week by week.
- There will be extensive television coverage of the inauguration events, with some networks devoting their entire programming day to the inauguration.
- Check out stories appearing in The News & Observer, or read inauguration stories from McClatchy journalists across the country.
If you go:
- HOTELS: Most downtown hotels are already filled, but there are still some rooms available in outlying areas of the city and the suburbs. Many hotels are requiring three- and four-night minimums. Travelers can check Web sites such as Expedia and Orbitz for deals as well as http://www.washington.org. "You really want to get at it right now," advises William Hanbury with Destination DC, the city's tourism bureau. Groups requiring 10 or more rooms can call Destination DC at 1-800-422-8644.
- OTHER OPTIONS: Hanbury says people are coming up with innovative approaches such as sleeping in church basements, school cafeterias or on friends' couches. Some D.C. residents have posted ads on Web sites such as Craigslist offering to rent out their homes.
- TRANSPORTATION: Many streets downtown and around the National Mall will be closed on Inauguration Day, so plan to use public transportation whenever possible. Your best options include Metrorail and Metrobus and the DC Circulator bus. You can avoid waiting in line in Metro stations by pre-purchasing all-day Metro passes online.
Find more information here.
1. Where was President Washington's inauguration held?
2. Who was the first president inaugurated in Washington, D.C.?
3. Where does the presidential oath of office come from?
4. Who added the phrase "so help me God" to his oath, which has been used ever since?
5. Who was the first president to have a poet speak at his inauguration, and who was the poet?
6. Who was the first president inaugurated on January 20?
7. Which president walked the inaugural parade for the first time?
8. Which president died of pneumonia one month after his inauguration, which was held in cold and overcast weather conditions?
9. When was the first televised inauguration ceremony?
10. How many people will be on the inaugural platform being constructed at the U.S. Capitol?
Answers
1. Washington was inaugurated in New York City, the temporary capital of the United States.
2. Thomas Jefferson was the first president inaugurated in Washington, D.C.
3. The oath of office is written in Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution.
4. George Washington added "so help me God" to the end of his oath.
5. John F. Kennedy asked poet Robert Frost to speak at his inauguration. Frost composed a poem titled Dedication to read, but the glare of the sun prevented him from seeing the writing on his paper. He instead recited from memory The Gift Outright.
6. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's inauguration in 1937 was the first to be held on January 20. The new date, which was moved from March, was a result of the 20th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
7. President Jimmy Carter, in 1977, was the first president to walk the parade route. He walked with his wife Rosalynn and daughter Amy.
8. President William Henry Harrison did not wear an overcoat, hat or gloves during his swearing-in ceremony on March 4, 1841. He also delivered the longest inauguration address on record. He died of pneumonia on April 4, 1841. Harrison was the first President to die in office.
9. In 1949 President Harry S. Truman's inauguration was the first televised ceremony.
10. The inaugural platform will hold over 1,600 people. In addition to Barack Obama, Joe Biden and their families, those seated on the platform will include members of Congress, members of the U.S. Supreme Court, governors, Cabinet members and nominees, members of the diplomatic corps, former Presidents and the outgoing President and Vice President.
