An Early Start For Tens of Thousands

A steady stream of people flowed towards the west side of the Capitol in Tuesday’s pre-dawn hours despite frigid temperatures in the low 20s and a crowd of tens of thousands already on the National Mall.

Capitol police sirens could be heard for miles, but it was mostly the sound of officials directing traffic on what appeared to be a busy, peaceful morning.

Floodlights were focused on the platform that will see President-elect Barack Obama sworn in at 11:30 a.m. by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., with workers busy making last-minute adjustments to the sound equipment.

A request from federal officials for people to not arrive until 7 a.m. could not stop the crowds from seeking the best spots the early-morning hours. Gates to the seating section are not scheduled to open until 9 a.m.

Elsewhere in the city, he metro was crowded but passengers on the red line could still find room to board.

By 6:30 a.m., the streets were bustling with people on their way to the Inauguration.

– J. Taylor Rushing and Ian Swanson