Event Schedule

Special Inaugural Events within the Greater Washington D.C. area

January 20, Private Swearing in, White House

January 21, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Activities, MLK Memorial

January 21, Swearing in Ceremony, No Tickets required to view the Inaugural Ceremony on the National Mall west of 4th Street, Location: US Capitol, West Front, Gates Open: TBD

January 21, Inaugural Parade, The majority of the parade route will be free and open to the public for standing room access. Viewing spots on the parade route are available on a first come, first serve basis. Traditionally, the parade route begins at the corner of 4th Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, goes west along Pennsylvania Avenue, then north on 15th Street, and finally west on Pennsylvania Avenue to 17th Street. Location: Pennsylvania Ave, NW. Event begins approximately 2:30pm, For additional information check the Presidential Inaugural Committe, and Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremmonies sites.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

NPS

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

January 15
9:30 a.m. Ceremonial Wreath Laying
10-4:00 p.m. - Junior Ranger Tent (Children's Activities)
10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00 p.m. - Ranger Talks/Programs (All Ages)

January 19-20
10-4:00 p.m. - Junior Ranger Tent (Children's Activities)
10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00 p.m. - Ranger Talks/Programs (All Ages)

January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
10-4:00 p.m. - Junior Ranger Tent (Children's Activities)
10-4:00 p.m. - Hourly Ranger Talks/Programs (All Ages)
12:00 - Ceremonial Wreath Laying

 

National Mall - Inauguration Weekend Ranger Programs

January 19, Saturday

Pennsylvania Avenue: Progress, New Beginnings, and Celebration
Walking Tour, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Walk in the footsteps of Presidential and Inaugural History on Pennsylvania Avenue. Location: The Peace Monument - First Street, NW and Pennsylvania Ave.

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Ranger Talk, 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, inscribed in the north chamber of the Lincoln Memorial, was one of his greatest orations. Learn why. Location: Lincoln Memorial.

Inaugural Parades and Protests
Walking Tour, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Old Post Office Tower - Ben Franklin statue. Walk along the Inaugural Parade route, which also has seen many protest marches, such as the Suffragette Procession the day before President Wilson's 1913 inauguration.

FDR's Inaugurations
Ranger Talk: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. FDR's Inaugurations took place during the Great Depression and World War II. How did they impact Americans during those times?

Walk with a Ranger
Walking Tour, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Memorial
Join a Park Ranger for an afternoon stroll and explore American history and the memorials.

January 20, Sunday

Pennsylvania Avenue: Inaugurations, Parades, Protests, and Celebrations
Walking Tour, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Old Post Office Tower - Ben Franklin statue. Walk along Pennsylvania Avenue and learn about Presidential inaugurations and the accompanying celebrations, parades and protests on "America's Main Street."

Inaugural Balls: Reflections of Presidents' Personalities and Agendas
Walking Tour, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Freedom Plaza - Casimir Pulaski statue. Inaugural balls are, and were, opportunities for celebration and recognition, as demonstrated by Ulysses S. Grant's ball in the Treasury Building.

Walk With a Ranger: Civil War to Inauguration
Ranger Walk, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
A walk to Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial will offer fit reflections on our progress from Emancipation Proclamation to Inauguration.

Unexpected Presidential Inaugurations
Ranger Talk, 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
Location: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.
Not all inaugurations have involved parades and parties, or even taken place in Washington, D.C. Take a retrospective look at some of America's unexpected inaugurations.

January 21, Monday

On The Way I: From Emancipation Proclamation to Gettysburg Address
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Location: Lincoln Memorial.
Learn how Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation informed the Gettysburg Address.

On The Way II: Lincoln's Second Inaugural and the Thirteenth Amendment
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Location: Lincoln Memorial.
Learn how, in his mere one month as a second-term President, Lincoln forwarded two major contributions that made Inauguration 2013 possible.

Is Abraham Lincoln Obamas favorite president?
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Discover why "The Urgency of now", quoted by President Obama during different times reflect Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln's Inaugurations
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Lincoln Memorial.
Hear how Lincoln's inaugurations compare to today's event.

On The Way III: From Civil War to inauguration 2013
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Lincoln Memorial.
Lincoln Memorials hidden message and Martin Luther King Jrs I Have a Dream speech in 1963 mark a trajectory towards Inauguration 2013.

Is Abraham Lincoln Obamas favorite president?
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Discover why "The Urgency of now", quoted by President Obama during different times reflect Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln.

Hidden Symbolism and American Myth
4:00 PM - 4:40 PM
Location: Lincoln Memorial.
Discover forgotten symbols of the United States that relate to Lincoln's achievements and learn how they became lost in our culture.

American DNA
Ranger Talk, 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM, 8:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Lincoln Memorial.
The 44 Presidents get a lot of attention. This talk showcases the hundreds of millions who put them there. This is the story if US!

 

Presidents Park Inauguration Weekend Programs

January 19, 2013

Special Program: 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 11:00a.m.
Location: White House Visitor Center
Join First Lady Dolley Madison, portrayed by Rebecca Roper, as she discusses her role in making the Presidents House the epicenter for socializing and political strategizing in the Nations young capital.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Inauguration Weekend Programs

January 19, 2013 - January 21, 2013

No Reservations Needed: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Frederick Douglass Historic Site
During Inauguration no reservations will be necessary to visit the Frederick Douglass house (including big groups). We will do our best to have all visitors see the house. Tour length will reflect the number of visitors.

 

For Kids

Become a Presidential Inauguration Junior Ranger for a limited time only! If you are attending the inauguration, or visiting any of the following sites, talk to a ranger to learn more:

National Mall and Memorial Parks
George Washington Memorial Parkway
National Capital Parks - East
C&O Canal
President's Park (White House)
Rock Creek