We plan to be in DC for the Inaguration and wondered what special events besides the parade might be readily accessible to the public. Is security going to be insane and have all the public building closed? Or can we visit the museums and monuments during the weekend? Is it worth asking our local Congresscritter about tickets to see the Capital during that time period?

(hotel already booked at pre-election rates, driving to Maryland from home near PHL and planning to use Metro while in DC proper)

If anybody has links to event schedules for the time period, please post!

There'll be lots of security on the parade route on the day.
Museums and monuments will be open as usual on the weekend.
You can go visit the Capitol ... via the visitors' center.

2013 Inauguration Guide

Note that one of the balls will be held at the Museum of Natural History on January 20, so it may be closed part or all of that day. And expect downtown traffic and parking to be a mess from mid-afternoon January 20 through January 21, the latter being the day of the swearing in ceremony and parade.

My recollection from last time around is that the museums and other buildings on the mall were closed during the actual inauguration (for security reasons), and that you needed a ticket to get a spot on the mall (and there is security to pass through before you get there).

The surrounding days should be okay for museums I should think (although busier than usual). If you are planning to take metro on the day of the inauguration to get to the mall, allow a LOT of time for the trip.

The tidal basin monuments should be open and easy to access (MLK, FDR, Lincoln, Jefferson). For other off-mall DC attractions, you might look at Georgetown, the Kennedy Center, the Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum (housed in the same building), National Zoo, National Cathedral, or the Building Museum.

If you are planning to be on the mall for the inauguration, make sure you have plenty of warm clothes, and double check on the security requirements for food or drink before you come.

As for the Capital visit, well, can't hurt to ask, right?

Oh, and go to Ben's Chili Bowl.

The museums were open in 2009 and they have been open in the past on inaguration days

http://www.gosmithsonian.com/inauguration/

This time around because its the same president it will not be as crazy as 2009. There will still be the parade and various inaguration balls happening.

Bush II second term was a little lower key than the first one. I expect the same with Obama where it isnt as crazy as 2009.

There will be security hot spots along the parade route which will be times for the president to step out of the car and walk on the street.

Inauguration Day falls on Sunday every 28 years. The last times this has happened when the person in office was an incumbent (Reagan, eisenhower) they did the oath privately on Sunday at noon but the parties/ceremony/parade have happened on Monday.

I dont know what will happen this time around...havent read anything.

most of the inag. people are wealthy, or pretend wealthy, they cab. the better restaurants will have longer lines than restaurant week. catch the subway toward your hotel. if it is out of state, there will be cabs available at the stop. new carrolton would be a good choice.

in 2009, my spouse and i lived near a metro stop and took the train in. while it may not be as wild as last time, it's still advisable to get there early as the parking lots will fill up - we saw what looked like thousands of people competing for a few hundred parking spaces.

that said, riding the metro that day was a wild experience. our car had a small jazz band who played dave brubeck songs repurposed into obama songs, and everyone was talking about where they were from and how excited they were about the inauguration.

i can't remember if they closed the metro stops on/near the mall, such as smithsonian, fed triangle, or cap south. i do remember getting off at farragut north and walking down to the mall, so anticipate that.

Only VIP sections (i.e. those within sight of the ceremony) need tickets, and last time it was a fiasco anyway-ticket check points way too slow. Wife and I went down to the public areas where they had jumbotrons set up. It was worth it.

That weekend much of downtown will be closed to private vehicles from about 22nd street all the way to beyond Capitol, south of about I street. But you can still walk places. As it gets closer to the parade route, things will get tighter. As it gets closer to the parade time, tighter still and eventually they will block pedestrians from Penn Ave, so don't get caught on the wrong side or you may have a long walk around.

Most inaug balls are private, but there are always a few bones of events they toss to us locals. And people watching, or VIP hunting is always free.

Would love to get tickets to see the swearing in, but as I'm basically apolitical I haven't got the clout to get them.

Wouldn't know a government VIP if I saw one and my companion is a 13 yr old boy, so I think the Air and Space Museum is a higher priority than the ball scene.

Thanks to all posters above for the tips, and any specifics on parade viewing spots would be much appreciated. Also, if anyone can find the security rules on what we can carry to the parade that would be very helpful. I'm thinking a backpack with sandwiches and thermoses would be good for the long wait, but will backpacks be allowed?

There are still a lot of downtown hotel rooms available. It's well worth staying downtown and walking as much as possible. On Innauguration Day, most of downtown will be closed to all but official traffic, it will be hard to cross many streets other than at designated places and many Metro stops will be closed.

I would simply check with event sites to make sure that they will be open. Also, remember that the innaugural is on Sunday and that Monday is MLK Day, so a holiday for most, and everything will be back to normal by then.

The key is to wear layered clothing to deal with changing weather and have things like water & snacks with you. Pay attention to security rules about what you can and cannot carry where, and all will be well.

According to http://www.inaugural.senate.gov/ the there will a private ceremony on Sunday, the 20th, but the public events are all on Monday, the 21st.

Where did you get the info that many Metro stops will be closed? I've read that only two will be closed and would like to know if there are others I need to avoid.

2009 street closures. will probably be similar in 2013,

http://inauguration.dc.gov/parking_areas.asp

note walk paths are at the bottom. just a good time to stay home. friends who wish to go are shipped from branch ave or new carrolton metro stop and picked up when they call. get your metro tickets in advance.

those of you planning to attend the swearing in, check the pics

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&tbo=d&...w=1044&bih=606

estimated 1.8 million in 2009!!!

Station closures won't likely be announced until much closer to the events and will likely be for relatively short periods of time. You can expect anything near the Capitol or the parade route to be closed while the event / parade is at that location. Trains will continue to run, but won't make stops at designated stations during designated routes.

All the more reason to stay at a downtown hotel. Washington is a very walkable city and part of the experience is being downtown.

Actually there are already a couple websites showing the closure of two stations during the ceremony and parade. No mention of more extensive closures.

Based on your similar statement above, I checked for hotel rooms using a couple different sites lat night. Didn't find a single room in the city for less than $700/night - not my price point. Most of the near in suburbs are completely booked, too, and even the further out ones, way beyond where I am currently booked, are going for double their normal rates. I'll stick with the room I booked back before the election.

slawecki thx for suggestion on advance purchase of Metro tickets. Found out I can order them online for special rates so will have them in hand before hitting the station. Yes, I know the city will be crowded, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime outing for my son.

make certain you and son have an accessible location if separated. i think the museums will be buried in the masses. one place would probably be the Folgers library in front of the capitol. for the back side, i would guess the jefferson. to the south, the occidental hotel.