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For several days in January 2009, Smithsonian Student Travel led thousands of students on tours of Washington, D.C., for the Inauguration festivities. Our travelers were a part of history as they joined millions on the National Mall to witness the swearing-in ceremonies and speeches.

Group Leader Cassie S. said of her class trip, “I think the most memorable for my students and I will be the Inauguration (ceremony). The crowds were thick but amiable…We were part of history…Having been there, we truly felt a part of it.”

Read more about the experiences of some Smithsonian Student Travel Inauguration 2009 tour groups:

California

• The Orange County Register – January 2, 2009:
  Fundraising teens to attend Obama inauguration

  
  

• La Jolla Light – January 14, 2009:
  Local students go to inauguration

  
  

• The Manteca Bulletin – January 17, 2009:
  Sierra High junior attending Obama's inauguration

  
  

• The Sacramento Bee – December 19, 2009:
  Local students will travel to D.C. for Obama inauguration

  
  

Central

• Chicago Tribune – October 20, 2009:
  Students raising money for trip to inaugural

  
  

• News 4 KVOA Houston – January 13, 2009:
  Vail students to attend inauguration

  
  

• Star-Telegram – January 14, 2009:
  Anticipating a historic inauguration

  
  

• Chronicle-Tribune – January 16, 2009:
  Groups prep for trip to D.C.

  
  

• Rocky Mountain News – January 17, 2009:
  Colorado kids from town of 330 head from ranch to "real world"

  
  

• The Courier News – January 18, 2009:
  Students to witness Obama take oath

  
  

• The Naperville Sun – January 18, 2009:
  Central students have prime seat to history

  
  

• The Daily Times – January 19, 2009:
  Locust Grove students to witness inauguration

  
  

• Fort Wayne Daily News – January 19, 2009:
  Obama, stars thrill crowd at D.C. Mall

  
  

• The Naperville Sun – January 19, 2009:
  Live from student ball on inauguration eve

  
  

• Scripps News – January 19, 2009:
  Kids from tiny Colorado town brace for inauguration crowd

  
  

• Chronicle-Tribune – January 20, 2009:
  The Scoop from D.C.

  
  

• The Naperville Sun – January 20, 2009:
  Trip to capital exciting, frustrating for students; But crowds can’t ruin once-in-a-lifetime journey

  
  

Northeast

• BerksMontNews.com – January 13, 2009:
  Exeter students to attend inauguration in D.C.

  
  

• The Morning Call – January 17, 2009:
  History or bust: Crowds, cold won't stop students from inauguration trip

  
  

• NBC 40 WMGM Atlantic City – January 17, 2009:
  Area high school students set to take in the presidential inauguration

  
  

Northwest

• Seattle Post-Intelligencer – January 20, 2009:
  Seattle-area kids get close-up to history in D.C.

  
  

Southeast

• DeSoto Times-Tribune – January 11, 2009:
  DeSoto students to attend inauguration

  
  

• WCNC Charlotte – January 14, 2009:
  Local students excited about attending inauguration

  
  

• WCNC Charlotte – January 14, 2009:
  Charlotte students headed to inauguration

  
  

• Northeaster Mississippi Daily Journal – January 17, 2009:
  Students to witness history

  
  

• Press Register – January 17, 2009:
  Students and educators to travel to D.C.

  
  

• The Post-Searchlight – January 19, 2009:
  Students going to Obama's inauguration

  
  

• DeSoto Times-Tribune – January 20, 2009:
  A monumental moment: Locals among millions in D.C. to witness history

  
  

• The Daily Reflector – January 22, 2009:
  Witnessing history

  
  

Southwest

• East Valley Tribune – January 16, 2009:
  E.V. students to see inauguration in D.C.

  
  

• The Arizona Republic – January 17, 2009:
  Gilbert residents D.C.-bound for Obama inauguration