President Obama’s daughters Sasha, left, and Malia watch the Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C.
President-elect Barack Obama greets thousands of supporters along his train ride from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., on January 17.
Obama began the historic journey in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station.
“It was here that a group of farmers and lawyers, merchants and soldiers, gathered to declare their independence and lay claim to a destiny that they were being denied,” he told a crowd of supporters.
During the Deleware stop, Obama thanked supporters for sharing their senator, Joe Biden, with the nation.
“Delaware, I’m asking Joe Biden to take one more ride to Washington. Together, we know that there is work to be done,” he told supporters.
With three days left until inauguration, the Obamas and Bidens celebrate with voters, after their historic road to victory.
The special day was also Michelle Obama’s 45th birthday. Along the train ride, supporters serenaded the next First Lady and waved “Happy Birthday” signs to wish her well.
Supporters get creative in ways to greet the Obamas as they come through town.
“Together, we know that the American people are facing adversity, and that the time has come to pick ourselves up once again,” Obama told supporters along the train ride.
While the train picked up steam through small towns, the Obamas headed to the train’s balcony to greet well-wishers and to tug the train’s horn.
The route President-elect Obama took to Washington is almost the exact route President Abraham Lincoln traveled on his journey to the White House.
Americans came out in thousands to see the First Family aboard the old-fashioned train with plenty of spirit.
Obama and wife Michelle greet the masses at the “We Are One” concert.
Supporters of all races and backgrounds joined together to root for the new president.
“To the conductors who make our trains run and to the workers who lay down the rails; to the parents who worry about how they’re going to pay the bills next month on the commute to work, and to the children who hear the whistle of the train and dream of a better life—that’s who we’re fighting for. That’s who needs change,” Obama told supporters.
Stevie Wonder, Usher and Colombian singer Shakira perform during the “We Are One” concert.
After leaving Philadephia, the train stopped in Wilmington, Deleware, to pick up Vice-President-elect Joe Biden and his family.
“Folks, this is more than an ordinary train ride—this is a new beginning,” Biden said to thousands of supporters.
In Baltimore, more than 40,000 supporters greeted the President-elect.
“As I prepare to leave for Washington on a trip that you made possible, I know that I will not be traveling alone. I’ll be taking you with me,” he told the crowd in freezing weather.
Mary J. Blige wows the crowd in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial” concert.
The cold didn’t stop Americans from cheering on the 44th President of the United States of America, as he made his way to Washington.
Beyoncé salutes supporters after performing “America the Beautiful” at the “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial” concert.
President-elect Barack Obama is immortalized with a wax figure at Madame Tussauds waxwork museum in London. The uncanny figure was unveiled in a recreation of the White House’s Oval Office in time for the inauguration.
Along with family and friends, 41 regular Americans joined Obama and Biden on their train ride.
“Now, it falls to us to pick ourselves up, to reach for the promise of a better day, and to do the hard work of perfecting our union once more,” he told supporters of his incoming administration.
President-elect Barack Obama deplanes in Cleveland on Friday before his big inauguration weekend.
First daughters Malia, left, and Sasha get ready for the “We Are One” concert to begin at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on January 18.
After stepping off his plane, Obama headed to Bedford, Ohio, to visit the Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Company and meet with workers.
Hundreds of thousands bundle up in the cold around the Washington Monument on the Mall for the the celebration concert for President-elect Barack Obama in Washington on January 18.
Computerized numerical lathe operator Don Marks shows President-elect Obama how he makes large bolts used for bridge construction during a tour of Cardinal Fasteners & Specialty Company.
After touring the factory, Obama hosts a town hall-style meeting with workers and receives a souvenir bolt.
President-elect Barack Obama continues his full day after visiting the Presidential Inaugural Committee offices in Washington, D.C.
Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha visit the Lincoln Memorial while getting acquainted with their new hometown, Washington, D.C.
President-elect Barack Obama shares a special connection with Lincoln and will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on the same bible as Lincoln on January 20.
Obama grabs lunch at historic landmark Ben’s Chilli Bowl on U St. with the city’s mayor, Adrian Fenty.
Obama is ready to dig into his chili.
Obama enjoys his hot meal with the legendary chili.
Obama greets well-wishers as he settles into life in the nation’s capital.
Marching bands get ready for inauguration and mark their parade assignments on Constitution Avenue January 11.
The seating area for the presidential inauguration is all set on the West side of the U.S Capitol.
Former U.S. Secretary of State General Colin Powell hosts a press conference on January 9, in Washington, D.C., to announce the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s ‘Renew America Together’ initiative asking Americans to volunteer for community service the Martin Luther King holiday.
President George W. Bush, center, welcomes President-elect Barack Obama to the White House for an elite luncheon today, where he was officially welcomed as “one of the boys.” Joining them were former President George H.W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton and former President Jimmy Carter. It was the first time since 1981 that all living presidents have been together at the White House.
President-elect Barack Obama meets with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Obama met with other congressional leaders to discuss a massive economic stimulus plan he hopes will pass soon after he takes office.
Malia and Sasha Obama get words of wisdom from their parents, President-elect Barack Obama and the next First Lady Michelle Obama, as they get ready for their first day of school.
President-elect Barack Obama and Michelle Obama prepare daughters Sasha and Malia for their first day of school. The family is currently staying at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C., until they can move into the White House after the inauguration.
At just 7 years old, Sasha Obama seems very confident this morning. Both Sasha and her older sister, Malia, will start classes today at the Sidwell Friends School in Bethesda, Maryland.
Michelle Obama, center, walks her daughter Sasha, 7, to her first day at the Lower School Campus of Sidwell Friends in Bethesda, Md. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Seven year-old Sasha Obama peers out the window of a Secret Service vehicle as she departs Sidwell Friends School after dropping off her sister Malia, on the first day of school in Washington, DC. The incoming first family are staying at the luxury Hay-Adams Hotel, with a view of the White House before moving to the president’s official guest home, Blair House, on January 15.
President-elect Obama speaks to a pool of reporters while on board an Air Force 757. He was on his way to join wife, Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia, who left the day before to start their new life in Washington, D.C.
1/1/09 – So long Hawaii! President-elect Obama waves goodbye as he and wife Michelle board a chartered flight for Chicago to finish packing up and move to the White House.
12/31/08 – President-elect Obama meets with well wishers as he leaves the Semper Fit gym in Kailua, Hawaii.
Malia gets a warm hug from dad—and of course Sasha is not too far behind—before entering the Honolulu Zoo while the soon-to-be First Family was on vacation last month during the Christmas holidays.
President-elect Barack Obama returned to Hawaii for the homegoing services of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, 86. “Toot”, as he affectionately called her, passed away at her home in Hawaii following a long battle with cancer on the eve of the U.S. presidential election this past November.
Obama seeks closure in the passing of his beloved grandmother who he often referred to as his “rock” and the one who taught him about hard work.
Here he scatters her ashes into the water at the Lanai Lookout, a scenic area of coastline on the southeast corner of Oahu, Hawaii. This is the same place that Obama scattered his mother’s ashes following her death more than ten years ago.
Obama is comforted by his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, during a cliff side memorial service for their grandmother, Madelyn Dunham on December 23, 2008, in Honolulu.
Obama and his sister spread the ashes of his deceased grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, in Honolulu on December 23, 2008.
“She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength and humility,” Obama and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, said in a statement immediately following her death.
President-elect Barack Obama and his sister Maya pay an emotional tribute to their grandmother as they scatter her ashes at a Hawaiian cliff.
Madelyn Dunham died of cancer at the age of 86 just two nights before her grandson was elected president.
Our First Lady to-be Michelle Obama continues to be a supportive wife during her husband’s grieving times.
President-elect Barack Obama looks on as Gary Gisner, Obama’s pick to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, address the press. Also on hand is newly veteran financial regulator Mary Schapiro, who will serve as the first female chief of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Obama returned to Hawaii this week to attend the memorial services of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham. Dunham helped raise Obama from the age of 10 while his mother was working in Indonesia and helped put Obama through private school in Hawaii while instilling in him the hard-work ethic that helped him win the historic election.
President-elect Obama greets Daniel Tarullo after naming him to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors during a press conference in Chicago.
President-elect Barack Obama practices his swing before playing golf while vacationing in Kailua, Hawaii.
Gary Gensler takes the podium after being named head of the Commodities Future Trading Commission by President-elect Obama during a Chicago press conference.
President-elect Barack Obama arrived to play golf in Kailua, Hawaii earlier this week. Pictured with him is Eugene Kang, a member of Obama’s staff.
Obama stands alongside Mary Schapiro, whom the president-elect picked to head the under-fire U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
A well deserved vacation in Hawaii was in order for our president elect.
Obama makes sure he has the right club before his next swing. His family vacation in Hawaii is a needed break from his ongoing task of building his executive team following his historic win on November 4.
Obama is all smiles as he gets in a few rounds of golf on a family vacation in Hawaii.
President-elect Barack Obama and daughter Sasha are ready for some island fun, as they land in Honolulu for their family vacation.
Obama names former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack agriculture secretary at a press conference. Vilsack, like Obama, is in favor of renewable energy and has a strong interest in developing the nation’s alternative fuel industry.
First Lady-elect Michelle Obama and daughter Malia are ready for their warm holiday.
President-elect Obama and Vice-President-elect Joe Biden look on as newly named Education Secretary-designate Arne Duncan addresses the press. Duncan, a Chicago school superintendent, is credited with improving achievement in the Windy City while earning the respect of teachers and their unions.
President-elect Barack Obama introduces Senatory Ken Salazar of Colorado as his incoming interior secretary. Salazar, a Democrat, was a farmer and rancher before entering politics. From 1999 to 2004, he was Colorado’s attorney general before winning his Senate seat, reports the New York Times.
Obama, along with Biden, left, and newly named Education Secretary-designate Arne Duncan, visits students at the Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago.
Obama speaks to students at Chicago’s Dodge Renaissance Academy.
Vice-President-elect Biden, President-elect Obama and Education Secretary-designate Duncan are all smiles for a class picture while visiting Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago.
Chicago students are happy to take a picture with the president-elect and Arne Duncan, the newly named education secretary.
President-elect Barack Obama announced at a press conference on Monday that he is confident that we as a country will be ready to begin the journey towards a new energy frontier once he officially becomes president on January 20th.
Obama chose Lisa Jackson as his Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Jackson has spent years working in public service at the local, state and federal level. As Commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, she has helped make her state a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing new sources of energy.
