Around 10 o'clock Monday night, a group of about 50 people boarded a bus in Florence, bound for Washington, D.C.
On Monday, Americans celebrated the history of Martin Luther King, Jr., but, thousands geared up to see Tuesday's history in action.
They packed their coolers, made their historic hats, and were getting excited about Tuesday.
"Something I never thought I'd ever see in my life and I really, just, thrilled to be going to see him become the next president of the United States," said Betty Gregg.
Gregg, her twin sister Brenda Echols, their friend Evelyn Graham, and several of their peers from the Wilson High School class of 1971 rode a bus through the night to see Barack Obama sworn-in as the 44th President.
"I'm hoping I get a chance to see him, if nothing but on the side of the road on Pennsylvania Street," said Brenda Echols.
"Tomorrow's experience will be the experience of a lifetime, and I don't have children, but I wish I had children that I could share that experience with," Evelyn Graham told NewsChannel 15.
As the ladies made hats for their former classmates, they remember growing up in segregated schools, thinking they would never go to a presidential inauguration, especially for an African-American president.
"I can remember going into the black section of the bathroom, so it means so much to me for America to be together," said Gregg.
"It's a historical moment for everybody, you know, it's not about, it's not a black and white issue, it's for everybody," Echols said.
They know Tuesday will be cold and chaotic, but said it's worth it to see history in the making.
The Manning High School band also went to the nation's capital, after being the only one in the state chosen to play at the inauguration.
