Dispatch from 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C.
The photographs featured in this gallery are views taken from the rooftop of Hilsdon Photography LLC studios, as well as street scenes below on Indiana Avenue/6th Street NW/Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
The scene around our Nation's capital today was one that I will never forget. James and I woke before dawn this morning to the sound of helicopters, police sirens, and...CHEERING! Hundreds of thousands of people streaming into the National Mall a block away from where we live, dancing in a giant long conga line through the security checkpoints, cheering, chanting, some crying, some laughing. We opened the windows and the joyous noise overwhelmed me. The sun was just coming up and 200,000 cheering people were already celebrating. What an amazing sight! By 11:00 there were a thousand people in the street in front of our building entrance. The cheering and joy on everyone's faces was amazing.

On our way up to the roof this morning to take these photos, I ran into our next door neighbor, a Republican congressman from Michigan. He was smiling. My fellow citizens, the Inauguration of a President is a true American celebration. Regardless of your politics, I hope you enjoy the photos. Today, I am very proud to be an American. I hope you are too.

Photos by James and Theresa Hilsdon for Hilsdon Photography LLC. All images are Copyright Hilsdon Photography 2009