President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. Members of Congress and Senators are allotted a limited number of tickets to the inaugural ceremonies for distribution to their constituents.
Those interested in attending the inauguration will witness a unique and historic event. If you are interested in learning more about the inauguration ceremony please visit the following websites:
Armed Forces Inaugural Committee
DC Presidential Inaugural Committee
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
Official Tourism Information for Washington, DC
Washington Metrorail Inaugural Page
Tickets already requested
Notification: Due to the historic nature of the event, our office has received an extremely high volume of ticket requests. As a result, the demand for tickets has greatly exceeded the amount that were allotted to individual congressional offices. Our office is currently in the process of notifying constituents as to the status of their request.
Ticket Pickup: We are unable to mail tickets to constituents. Tickets will be handed out the week before the inauguration and will only be handed out upon presentation of a photo id.
Inclement Weather Expected: Historically, weather during the Inaugural Ceremony is often cold or rainy. Therefore, the Joint Inaugural Committee (JIC) advises that those who are unable to brave harsh weather not attend as ticket holders will likely have to stand outdoors in very cold temperatures for several hours.
Security: Because of the historic nature of the event and the expected record crowds, security screenings are expected to be very stringent. Spectators are forbidden to bring outside food or liquids to the event and it is recommended that they visit the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies website for more information on security guidelines.
Travel: Due to road closures and security precautions, it is strongly encouraged that ticket holders use the Metro transit system for traveling to and from Capitol Hill. Gates will open at 9:00 AM, and it is suggested that ticket holders arrive early.
Access to the ticketed area will begin at 8 a.m. on January 20th. We recommend arriving as early as possible to ensure admittance. Security will close the gates as the ceremony approaches and no additional spectators will be permitted access to the area, regardless of ticket.
Individuals wishing to view the inauguration from the non-ticketed areas are urged to arrive on the National Mall as early as possible. Public access to the Mall will begin at 4 a.m. on Inauguration Day.
Due to tight security measures, it is highly unlikely that spectators for the Inaugural ceremony will be able to relocate in time for the parade. Spectators are advised to decide ahead of time which event they would prefer to witness.
On Sunday, January 18th, 2009, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) will be hosting the “We Are One” concert at the Lincoln Memorial. The event will be open to the public and is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. More information on the concert and other official PIC sponsored events can be found at http://www.pic2009.org/.
Additional information
Please check back to our website for more information on the 56th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.
