U.S. GOVERNMENT | A resilient balance of institutions
15 January 2009
Washington Prepares to Host Record-Sized Inaugural Crowd
Nation’s capital expecting unprecedented security
Washington — Washington is used to hosting big events, but even lifelong residents of the nation’s capital are expecting Barack Obama’s inauguration to be like nothing they have seen before.
Official inaugural activities begin January 18. Most action will take place on Inauguration Day, January 20, with the swearing-in ceremonies for the new president and vice president, followed by a parade, concerts and inaugural balls. The newly-inaugurated president and vice president will participate in a prayer service January 21 to cap off the official activities.
There is no official estimate of how many people might attend the inauguration, but many local media outlets are suggesting 2 million might come to watch the nation’s first African-American president take the oath of office.
As the big day nears, many in the city are getting into the inaugural spirit. City shops are full of Obama hats, T-shirts, pins, posters, mugs, key chains and even cookies. Some restaurants are offering special three-course meals for $44 to mark the arrival of the 44th president. Even Washington’s public transit system, Metro, is getting into the Obama excitement, selling fare cards featuring the new president’s image.
Visitors from around the world are descending on the District of Columbia and its neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia. The three jurisdictions, with the help of several federal agencies, have been preparing for these crowds for months.
Washington is used to hosting major national and international events, said Bill Hanbury, president of Destination DC, the official convention and tourism entity for the nation’s capital. “The amount of preparation and cooperation that’s gone into preparing for the inauguration is really quite unprecedented, so we do believe the city is well prepared.”
However, there is one thing officials cannot control: the weather. Extreme cold or heavy snow could lead to the cancellation of events. The Presidential Inaugural Committee, the official organizer of inauguration events, receives weather updates every few hours. The Inauguration Day forecast as of January 14 looks good, with a slightly-below-normal temperature of about 2.7 degrees Celsius and very little chance of precipitation.
In a tough economic climate, the inauguration brings good news for Washington — the city stands to gain hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from tourists’ spending, Hanbury told journalists at the State Department’s Foreign Press Center January 13.
“The D.C. hospitality industry stands ready to welcome [visitors] and the benefits that they bring through travel and tourism to the region’s economy,” Hanbury said. The city receives about 16 million tourists annually.
But it also costs millions to stage such an event. Everything from extra police officers to extra trains to extra portable toilets will be needed to ensure the inauguration runs smoothly. In an unusual move, President Bush declared Washington to be in a “state of emergency” from January 17 through January 20. This declaration enables the city to receive federal funds to help cover these costs.
“The energy and excitement surrounding this historic moment will be felt here in D.C. for months and months to come,” Hanbury said. “We are delighted to share this historic event and a beginning of a new era for our city and our country.”
MAKING THE INAUGURATION ACCESSIBLE AND SECURE
“We do believe this will be the largest inauguration ever,” Hanbury said, adding that the number of visitors should easily surpass the record 1.2 million who attended Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1965 inauguration.
Obama and Vice President-elect Biden have said they want this inauguration to be the “most open and accessible in history,” Hanbury said. But with record crowds comes unprecedented security. Hanbury said there is a balance between making sure the event is welcoming to visitors and making it safe.
The National Mall, a large piece of land stretching from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, will be open for millions of spectators. Even though most will not be able to see the president up close, they will be able to watch Obama take the oath of office on large-screen televisions set up throughout the area.
Those who plan to head to the mall or line the parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue, a road that stretches from the Capitol to the White House, are being told to “pack a major dose of patience,” Hanbury said.
All visitors will have to go through security checkpoints. People are being encouraged to bring as few items as possible, and items like umbrellas and backpacks will be banned. Families are being asked to reconsider bringing small children to the inauguration because strollers are also on the list of prohibited items.
The security regulations extend past the National Mall. Blocks of roads will be closed throughout the city, and all bridges connecting the District to Virginia will be limited mostly to foot traffic and emergency vehicles. With driving routes restricted, Metro is preparing for record ridership on its trains and buses and warning visitors it could take hours to reach some destinations.
Most local residents will get the day off from school and work for Inauguration Day, which happens in 2009 to fall on the day following Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday. Those looking to avoid the large crowds are using the opportunity to take a short vacation, which is why area ski resorts, looking for an economic benefit of their own, are offering “escape the Inauguration” vacation deals.
A list of official inaugural events is available on a special inaugural activities Web site.
Historical Inaugurations