On January 20th, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States in Washington D.C. An estimated record 1.8 million people came to witness the event firsthand, massed together on the entire length of the National Mall for the first time in inauguration history.

Excitement and joy arose from those on the US Capitol Grounds (who were lucky enough to secure official invitations) all the way to those in the general public beyond the Washington Monument,...
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On January 20th, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States in Washington D.C. An estimated record 1.8 million people came to witness the event firsthand, massed together on the entire length of the National Mall for the first time in inauguration history.

Excitement and joy arose from those on the US Capitol Grounds (who were lucky enough to secure official invitations) all the way to those in the general public beyond the Washington Monument, watching the President take the oath of office on the JumboTrons strewn about.

The day was the culmination of a week of inauguration events, starting with Obama's "Whistle Stop" tour on January 17th, which retraced Abraham Lincoln's own 1861 pre-inaugural train ride. Obama traveled from Philadelphia to Washington D.C., stopping in Wilmington, DE to pick up Joe Biden and also stopping later in Baltimore, MD for a rally before heading to Washington D.C. The pair were accompanied by their wives and a few select citizens on a vintage rail car. Despite frigid temperatures, thousands cheered the train along as it passed and an estimated 40,000 people gathered for the Baltimore rally.

The "Whistle Stop" tour demonstrated the new administration's appreciation of history and commitment to engaging ordinary citizens, a trend throughout the week's events. On the 18th, an estimated 400,000 people attended the free "We Are One" concert at the Lincoln Memorial. On the 19th, which fell on MLK Day, Obama called for a day of citizen volunteer service. Even the exclusive balls held on inauguration night were slightly open as one, the first "Neighborhood Ball", had invitations available to the public. The theme for the inauguration was "A New Birth of Freedom".
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