Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th president next Tuesday. Preparations have been underway for many weeks. Some 3.5 square miles of downtown Washington, including the business district and government buildings surrounding the National Mall, will be closed to traffic starting the afternoon of Jan. 19, the day before the inauguration, and remain closed until the morning rush hour on Jan. 21, Obama's first full day as president. (23 images)
A U.S. Capitol Police Officer keeps an eye on the podium where Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th U.S. President. In the background are the National Mall and Washington Monument.This mall area is expected to fill beyond capacity with people during the presidential inauguration on Jan.20. AFP/ Getty Images / Paul J. Richards
Capitol employees raise U.S. flags up then down and re-fold them inside the U.S. Capitol dome structure Jan. 9, in Washington, D.C. President Elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the nation's 44th president on Jan. 20, when these flags will be distributed to the public and flown over the U.S. Capitol.Getty Images / Mark Wilson
Workers hang two versions of U.S. flags on the U.S. Capital grounds for the presidential inauguration on Jan. 12, in Washington, D.C. President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the U.S. on Jan. 20. AFP/ Getty Images / Paul J. Richards
Military personnel participate during a dress rehearsal for the presidential inauguration at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 11, in Washington, D.C. The inauguration is scheduled to take place on January 20th, swearing in Barack Obama as the Nation's 44th president. Getty Images / Alex Wong
Work continues at the site of President-elects Barack Obama's Inauguration, Friday, Jan. 9, on Capitol Hill in Washington. AP / Susan Walsh
A soldier salutes during a dress rehearsal for the presidential inauguration at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 11, in Washington, DC. The inauguration is scheduled to take place on January 20th, swearing in Barack Obama as the Nation's 44th president. Getty Images / Alex Wong
A lone man sits in the thousands of empty seats placed on the U.S. Capital grounds on Jan. 12, in Washington, D.C. in preparation for the presidential inauguration. AFP/ Getty Images / Paul J. Richards
Workers work with chairs at the west front of the Capitol in Washington Saturday, Jan. 10, as preparations continue around Washington for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 20.AP / Luis M. Alvarez
The seating area for the presidential inauguration on the West side of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 12, in Washington, D.C. AFP/ Getty Images / Karen Bleier
Military personnel stand amongst the thousands of chairs on the West Front of the Capitol during a early morning rehearsal for President-elect Barack Obama's Inauguration Ceremony in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11. AP / Ron Edmonds
A row of portable restrooms are in place and secured from use until the presidential inauguration on the West side of the U.S. Capitol. AFP/ Getty Images / Karen Bleier
Army Staff Sgt. Derrick Brooks, right, stands in for President-elect Barack Obama during a dress rehearsal of the swearing-in of the new president in front of the U.S. Capitol Building Jan. 11, in Washington, D.C. Barack Obama is to be sworn in as the nation's 44th president on Jan. 20. Getty Images / Chip Somodevilla
Army Staff Sgt. Derrick Brooks, left, stands in for President Elect Barack Obama and Navy Yeoman 1st. Class LaSean McCray, second from left, stands in for his wife Michelle Obama while Gianna Justice Samora-Nixon, riight stands in for Sasha Obama and Dominique Sewell, second from right, stands in for Malia Obama during a dress rehearsal of the swearing of the new president in front of the U.S. Capitol Building Jan. 11, in Washington D.C. Barack Obama will be sworn in as the Nation's 44th president on Jan. 20. Getty Images / Mark Wilson
Army Sgt. Derrick Brooks, standing in for President-elect Barack Obama and Navy Yeoman 1st Class LaSean McCray, standing in for Michelle Obama, walk the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue towards the White House during a rehearsal for the Inauguration Ceremony in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11. AP / Charles Dharapak
A military conductor strikes up the band on the West Front of the Capitol during a rehearsal for the Inauguration Ceremony in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11. AP / Ron Edmonds
The early morning sky brightens on the West Front of the Capitol during a rehearsal for the Inauguration Ceremony in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11. AP / Ron Edmonds
Work continues on the presidential inauguration platform in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 12, in Washington, D.C. On January 20, President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the nations 44th president. Getty Images / Mark Wilson
The West Front of the Capitol during an early morning rehearsal for President-elect Barack Obama's Inauguration Ceremony in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11. AP / Ron Edmonds
The helicopter which will transport President George W. Bush to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., after President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States takes off from the East Front of the Capitol during a rehearsal for the Inauguration Ceremony in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 11. AP / Charles Dharapak
An invitation for the Inauguration of Barack Obama is shown on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 12. AP / Susan Walsh
Buttons of Michelle Obama are for sale with US President-elect Barack Obama inauguration memorabilia at the Presidential Inaugural Committee store Jan. 12, in Washington, D.C. AFP/ Getty Images / Jim Watson
Matthew Chubb unpacks boxed of Inauguration tickets so they can be counted and distributed on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 12. AP / Susan Walsh
A Capitol Hill staffer prepares to hand out invitations to the presidential inauguration on Jan. 12, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. AFP/ Getty Images / Karen Bleier
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