D.C.'s Inauguration Head Count: 1.8 Million

The Washington Pest ^ | 1/22/09 | Michael E. Ruane and Aaron C. Davis

[steve-b]

Two things are clear about the size of the crowd that gathered downtown for Tuesday's inauguration:

First, although some experts described it as high, the official estimate released by the District yesterday is 1.8 million, a figure that would make the gathering the largest ever on the Mall.

Second, from space we look like ants....

[Dust in the Wind]

Been there bump.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I believe DC is using the numbers to get money to pay for security. They have a vested interest in overstating the numbers.

I also read that the Park service will be issuing a formal estimate, because they want to know if it is more than the previous record of 1.2 million.

[Red in Blue PA]

D.C.’s Inauguration Head Count: 1.8 Million

In related news, only 12 had to call out from work.

[Caipirabob]

Here's a thought that I can't follow up on: Notice the shadow of the Washington monument in the photos. Can anyone use that to estimate the time the photos were taken? Given that the crowds would have peaked at noon for the inauguration, I'm curious what time that photo was taken. Just thinking and got curious is all...

[LikeLight]

I was studying my aerial shots from PK’s 1997 Stand in the Gap, versus Obama’s Inauguration. The crowds were very comparable in size. The PK crowd was denser and much more packed in under the trees on the Mall. The Inaugural crowd extended to the Capitol itself, whereas the PK crowd stopped short of the Capitol. All in all, my honest estimate is that the PK crowd was a bit bigger.

I was at both events and several other contrasts jumped out at me. Of course, PK left the Mall cleaner than when they started and the Obama crowd utterly trashed it. But there was also a shocking lack of energy and enthusiasm from the Obama crowd - there was some occasional chanting and singing, but it never got sustained or intensely loud. The PK guys were singing and shouting with much more duration and enthusiasm.

Disclaimer: I was at the Obama event as a chaperone for my daughter's AP History class, in case anyone is wondering what the heck I was doing there!

[Dixie Yooper]

My ears are still ringing from the shouting “I love Jesus” chant from one side of the Metro deck to the other while waiting to get on the train at the end of the PK event 1997. Good natured fun!

[steve-b]

The Mall runs directly east of the Washington Monument. The fact that the shadow is pointed northeast implies a mid-afternoon time, so it would be a bit after the peak of the event.

[Caipirabob]

Thanks! I was curous but didn't have Google Earth or a like tool to confirm.

[Dust in the Wind]

Steve;
I think you are correct for the PK photo but the satellite picture below it is earlier. I would estimate 10-11 AM time frame. IMHO