It was a good day to be in the District, because the city was relatively empty despite the return of the workforce and the day was somewhat balmy for early January, overcast but in the mid-40's.
I started near the White House, and then jumped onto Metro to go to the Capitol Building, more or less the reverse of the Inauguration Day Parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue.
VIP Motorcade
The new location of the Newseum (a privately-operated museum dedicated to journalism) is in a prime location on Pennsylvania Avenue overlooking the parade route which has a spectacular view of the Capitol Building and the site of the swearing-in ceremony. (They're sold out on January 20th already, though.)
While I was standing in front of the Newseum the DC Police suddenly stopped all traffic and a few minutes later a large convoy of motorcycle police and an ambulance escorting some black SUVs turned onto Pennsylvania Ave., racing for the Capitol.
Police escorts in DC are not uncommon, but this is the first time I can recall seeing an ambulance in a motorcade, and I knew Barack Obama had been on Capitol Hill on Sunday -- leading me to think that it was the President-Elect passing by.
Near the White House
I had started my day earlier by going through the White House Visitor Center, across the street from the White House and Treasury Building.
I had never been there and found it to be a good introduction to the White House and the Presidency. I also picked up some free materials (aimed at kids) for my nieces, a Christmas 2008 booklet from the Bushes and a Junior Ranger Activity Guide for the Inaugural.
I also asked about getting tickets to tour the White House. They told me if I request them through my Congressman or Senator to expect about 2-6 months for background checks and processing, though it's possible procedures could change with the new administration.
I then walked around the south side of the White House, taking an obligatory picture of the South Portico and the South Lawn, and then walked around to the north side, which faces Lafayette Square. There they were building reviewing stands for the President and dignitaries to view the finish of the Inaugural Parade.
I then walked a block north to the other side of Lafayette Square, where video cameras were trained on the entrance to the Hay-Adams Hotel, the Obamas having taken residence there while waiting for the previous tenants to move out of the White House.
Inauguration Kitsch
After this burst of Presidential-themed activity I went souvenir hunting. Several vendors were selling merchandise from pushcarts on the street (mostly t-shirts), but I found a couple of small items at a store opened solely to sell Inauguration merchandise on 7th Street just north of Pennsylvania Avenue.
They had some interesting shirts but I only bought a couple of discreet Inauguration pins ($4) and a pack of Obama playing cards ($10).
From there I hopped Metro from Chinatown to the Books-a-Million on Dupont Circle, where I bought a Rand-McNally microfiber map-kerchief ($10) commemorating the Inauguration, with a map of the parade route on the reverse side. The idea is that you can stuff it in your pocket because it's virtually indestructible, and then use it for, er, other kerchief purposes.
More Pictures
My path was roughly the opposite of the parade route, in that I started at the White House and went to Capitol Hill:
At the US Capitol, stands were being built and the grounds tidied:
Crews were painting and cleaning near the White House too:
The Willard Hotel near the White House is where President Ulysses S. Grant reputedly coined the term "lobbyists" but it has played other roles in history as well:
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