If you can find somewhere to stay in Washington D.C. for the upcoming presidential inauguration celebrations it will be well worth the headache.

Millions of people are expected to attend the inauguration on January 20 and among them will be many Bermudians who will be travelling to see President-elect Barack Obama formally inducted into the White House but many will be staying with family and friends because hotel rooms are so scarce.

That's because thanks to Mr. Obama, presidents are 'in' again, and that means Washington is a hot spot.

Dozens of exhibits and attractions are touching on the inauguration, America's political and social history, and its progress from the struggle for civil rights, so if you miss out on the inauguration it's still worth visiting the city in the weeks afterwards.

Some of those attractions are in the middle of Washington yet off the beaten path for most tourists.

One example is the Decatur House museum. The first neighbour of the White House, it was built on Lafayette Square in 1818. The house, once an unofficial residence for secretaries of state, includes slave quarters within steps of the White House though they usually go unnoticed amid the hustle of the city.

"It's a sensitive subject. It's an important subject, though," museum director Cindi Malinick said of an exhibit on black history in the White House neighbourhood.

"The more we discuss it and discuss ... how these people lived and worked and got through their lives, I think the better off we all will be as a society."

Decatur House, now administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, holds one of the few remaining examples of what urban slavery was like in 19th century America, said Ms Malinick.

It was there that 15 members of the King and Williams families lived together in three rooms on the second floor of a building located behind the red-brick house. They were considered the property of John Gadsby, owner of the National Hotel in the 1800s. Gadsby was said to have made a fortune in the slave trade.

A 2002 renovation uncovered the original floor, walls and fireplaces of the slave quarters, which are on view in the exhibit, 'The Half Had Not Been Told Me: African Americans on Lafayette Square'.

"Certainly, given the magnitude of the new president that's coming, this is a really special place," said Ms Malinick.

Mr. Obama visited the home in February to film a campaign commercial during the primaries held in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

"Tell me about this place," Ms Malinick recalled Obama saying while he had time to look around.

"And I said, 'Well, Senator Obama, you're actually standing in the slave quarters of Decatur House.' 'Really?' he said.

"He was just very interested, but nonplussed by it one way or another," Ms Malinick said.

The exhibit features a cane used by Frederick Douglass, who was an abolitionist, that is carved with images from his life, progressing from slavery to a presidential appointment as a United States Marshal.

Mr. Douglass was one of the foremost leaders of the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery within the United States in the decades prior to the Civil War.

A brilliant speaker, Douglass was asked by the American Anti-Slavery Society to engage in a tour of lectures, and so became recognised as one of America's first great black speakers. He won world fame when his autobiography was publicised in 1845. Two years later he began publishing an anti-slavery paper called the North Star.

He served as an adviser to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that guaranteed voting rights and other civil liberties for blacks. Mr. Douglass provided a powerful voice for human rights during this period of American history and is still revered today for his contributions against racial injustice.

Access on Inauguration Day will likely be limited due to security, but public tours will continue the weekend before, and in the days after Obama is sworn in. For more information, visit the Decatur House Web site: www.decaturhouse.org.

Here are some highlights of other sites to see in Washington:

• The National Museum of American History, recently reopened after a two-year renovation, features a dramatic display of the flag that inspired the national anthem. The museum also features exhibits on the presidency and first ladies, and costumed historic characters wander through the halls every weekend. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m; free admission; www.americanhistory.si.edu.

• Visitors can also see the new Capitol Visitor Center, an underground museum that's now the first stop for people touring Congress. It features documents from milestones such as President John F. Kennedy's 1961 speech calling for the nation to send a man to the moon. Tours of the Capitol are limited to free, timed-entry tickets that should be reserved in advance on-line, www.visitthecapitol.gov, or through a congressional office.

• Lincoln Bicentennial: Not only is Barack Obama moving into the White House, but there is also an ongoing celebration of President Abraham Lincoln's life in Washington DC this winter. The focus on President Lincoln begins this month and will feature more than 80 exhibits and programmes. The Smithsonian Institution, through the National Museum of American History, will offer five exhibits on the 16th president, including 'Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life', featuring more than 60 artifacts from his life. The exhibit opens in January along with a display of rare documents from the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Illinois. Details at www.lincolnindc.com.

In February, Ford's Theatre, where President Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, will reopen for tours and performances after an extensive renovation. There will be an open house on February 12 to mark Lincoln's birthday, and tours resume February 17. The theatre has also commissioned a new play on President Lincoln set in 1862 entitled, 'The Heavens are Hung in Black'. The play tackles the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of slavery. Details at www.fords.org.

The Peterson House across the street, where President Lincoln died, remains open for tours.

"It's one of the most sacred spots in all of Washington," said Ford's Theatre director Paul Tetreault. "That is the real deal."

Visitors interested in civil rights can "walk in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr." and others who fought for equality along the Civil War to Civil Rights Downtown Heritage Trail that winds through downtown Washington.

Stops along the way include the alley where John Wilkes Booth fled after shooting President Lincoln and the hotel where Dr. King finished his 'I Have a Dream' speech. See www.culturaltourismdc.org.

Flight and accommodation options for the big day

Flights to Washington D.C. from Bermuda:

If leaving January 19 and returning January 22 on Continental, American Airlines or US Airways with connecting flights in Newark, New York (JFK), and Philadelphia, the average lowest fare is $443.

See airline schedules on the L.F. Wade International Airport website at www.bermudaairport.com. Search under airline information.

Delta is also offering flights for around $504 per person with connecting flights in Boston, Atlanta (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport). Prices vary depending on the dates chosen.

The hotel situation in Washington D.C., nearby Baltimore and all nearby towns and cities in Virginia and Maryland is pretty dire during inauguration week.

We did find a few hotels on-line with one or two openings using the website page at www.bookings.com.

But prices and availability changed just within the writing of this article, so move fast.

Most of the rooms left in Washington D.C. weren't cheap to put it mildly. If you have friends or family or even a passing acquaintance living in the area call them now.

If you find a hotel outside the city, when you make your booking it might be worth discussing how you will be able to travel into the city to attend events.

The hotel may offer a shuttle service, or they may have a recommendation.

The pricier hotel alternatives we found were:

The Melrose Hotel, 2430 Pennsylvania Avenue. $3,196 for four nights for a deluxe king or double room. See their website, www.melrosehotelwashingtondc.com.

The Quincy, 1823 L Street NW. $2,196 for four nights. See their Internet website, www.thequincy.com.

Capitol Skyline, 10 Capitol South Street SW. $2,596 for four nights. See their website, www.capitolskyline.com.

Some less expensive alternatives (relatively speaking):

The American Inn of Bethesda, 8130 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, Maryland. $1,016 for four nights. See their website, www.americaninn.com.

The Historic Tidewater Inn, 101 East Dover Street, Easton, Maryland. $606 for two nights. See their website, www.tidewaterinn.com.

The cheapest option we found:

Hagerstown Hotel and Conference Center, 1910 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, Maryland. $338 for two nights. See their website, www.hotelplanner.com/Hotels/50946/Reservations-Hagerstown-Hotel-Convention-Center-Hagerstown-1910-Dual-Highway-21740.

But for some really good deals within Washington D.C. check http://washingtondc.craigslist.org. Click on events under the heading of community. Many people within the city limits have chosen to make some money off the inauguration by renting out their homes. There are also a host of other things offered such as limos, balloons, photographers and pianists. But beware that the services and people on Craigslist are not vetted by the police or any other organisation. Anyone can post a listing, so use your common sense.

You can also try contacting your local travel agent in Bermuda for assistance, or try Destination D.C.'s toll-free number, 1-800-422-8644, to connect with an area travel expert to learn which hotels still have availability during the inauguration, where the hotels are located, and what rates they may expect you to pay.