The U.S. Capitol is illuminated the night before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama in Washington January 19, 2009.　

 　　The U.S. Capitol is brightly illuminated early Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, as people gather on the National Mall for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

 　　WASHINGTON – Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasps the reins of power as America's first black president in a high-noon inauguration amid grave economic worries and high expectations.