Can't get to D.C. for Inauguration Day? Consider these historic alternatives

— -- Shortly after Election Day, I had a terrific idea: I would take my son out of school and travel to Washington to witness the historic inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African-American president of the United States. Alas, it stopped being a terrific idea around the same time that 4 million other Americans came up with the same one.

There are likely millions more who would like to be in D.C. on January 20th, but they're prevented by a combination of factors—the expense of traveling, the mid-week date, the distance to the nation's capital, the chance of bitter January weather and those crowds that are estimated to swell to record proportions. I considered airways, railways and highways, and soon realized that all modes were either too clogged, too expensive, or both.

That's the bad news. The good news is there are myriad ways to witness history, and they all don't require you to stand thirty-deep on Pennsylvania Avenue. Depending on where you'll be two weeks from now, one of these choices might work for you.

Civil rights sites

There are dozens of historic locations around the country that will be commemorating—both formally and informally—President-Elect Obama's oath-taking. And due to an interesting fluke in the calendar this year, Barack Obama's inauguration on Tuesday the 20th will follow the three-day Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Because of this, many local schools, houses of worship, museums and other facilities are planning programs that extend across all four days.

Two of the most culturally significant sites are well worth considering as alternatives on Inauguration Day. One is the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, scene of the Voting Rights March in 1965 that evolved into a pivotal moment in American history. The trail is showcased at the Lowndes Interpretive Center in Hayneville, Ala., a museum administered by the National Park Service (NPS). On January 20th, the Center will present an extensive program of events as part of its first educational program on presidential inaugurations. Students and teachers from nearby counties will participate in the activities, which include educational talks, a civic leaders forum and a video viewing of the 2009 inauguration.