2009 Presidential Inauguration Information

Given the overwhelming demand for tickets to the 2009 Inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama, I am unable to offer tickets to the inauguration. However, only a small fraction of those coming to Washington to see the inauguration will watch from the ticketed area.

This is an historic inauguration that is drawing unprecedented interest. The Joint Inaugural Committee, the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and the National Park Service are all working to accommodate the millions of people coming to Washington for the inaugural. They are currently planning on installing jumbotrons on the National Mall west of 4th Street. This area does not require tickets to watch the inauguration. That area is notated on the attached Washington Post map as "General Public". As you can see people in the unticketed area may be just a bit further from the stage than some of those with tickets.

Please bear in the mind that regardless of whether you have tickets or not, seeing the inauguration will involve standing outside, possibly in extremely cold weather, for several hours under crowded conditions, and facing long security delays. Also it is extremely difficult and expensive to get a hotel room within 100 miles of the inauguration. Many wise people have decided to watch the event at home on television.

You may decide to come to Washington to see the inaugural parade, rather than the inauguration (it will be logistically difficult to attend both). You can view the parade without a ticket or check the Presidential Inaugural Committee's website, which should eventually have information about tickets to view the parade. Whether or not you have parade tickets, please remember that security will be tight so expect delays getting to your viewing location.

If you plan to be in Washington, D.C. during the inauguration, please contact our office so we can arrange tours of the U.S. Capitol and other important Washington, D.C. sights. These sights will be more accessible during the three days after the inauguration than the three days prior.

If you come to Washington you may want to attend an inaugural ball and other events. The "official" inaugural balls are hosted by the Presidential Inaugural Committee whose website is listed two paragraphs below. The "unofficial" events, which in some cases are nicer, are described on the Washingtonian website.

Contact us any time you are coming to Washington, D.C. and would like to see the attractions. In fact, the sights of Washington will be more accessible at times other than the inauguration.

For further information, please visit the official website of the Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee at www.inaugural.senate.gov and the Presidential Inaugural Committee at http://www.pic2009.org/content/home/.

You may also want to read the official release on ticket information including an important fraud alert regarding anyone claiming to have tickets for sale. You may also want to view an Inauguration Fact Sheet and a useful article from U.S. News and World Report.

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