The DC Traveler

The Inaugural Parade for newly sworn in President Barak Obama will conclude the many public events on Tuesday, January, 20 , 2009.

The history of the new President participating in a parade goes back to when George Washington was sworn in as the first President in 1789. 

Washington left Mount Vernon in Virginia, heading to New York City, the then capital city for the swearing-in ceremony. As his procession passed through cities and towns, bands of militias randomly joined in Washington’s procession. 

In 1809, the first organized parade celebrated the inauguration of President James Madison, with a troop of cavalry escorting him from Georgetown to the Capitol Building.

The parade for the ninth President, William Henry Harrison’s, in 1841, included the first collection of floats and non-military groups, including citizen and political clubs, college students and military bands.

The longest inauguration parade was for President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first inauguration. It included over 125 bands, floats, and marching groups.  Lasing more than 4½ hours, the parade has since now been limited to 15,000 participants.

Before Richard Nixon’s inaugural parade and a ride in an open top limousine, the route was sprayed with a chemical that deterred pigeons from coming close to the route.

The parade starts at the U.S. Capitol and runs down Pennsylvania Avenue, to Lafayette Square, ending in front of the White House.

Presidential Inaugural Parade
Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol Building to Lafayette Square
Washington, DC (map it)

Date and Time - January 20, 2009 at 2:30 p.m., lining up is allowed starting at 7:00 a.m.

Tickets - None required. But expect to arrive very early for a decent viewing spot.  The bleachers are located from 3rd Street, NW to 17th Street, NW.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Federal Triangle, Smithsonian and Federal Center - Blue and Orange lines.

The Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter station on the Green and Yellow lines will be closed.  Other Metro stations or some of the entrances/exits may be closed at different times. 

Metro will open at 4:00 a.m. and close at 2:00 a.m. on Inauguration night.  Expect long delays.

Parking - Forget it.  Many streets in all directions of the National Mall from around 23rd Street NW to 1st Street, SW will be closed to vehicle traffic. Large numbers of public parking places will be designated as no parking, so don’t even try to drive into the Mall area.

Images - Flickr - color guard, Kilgore Rangerettes, redcoats

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