National Mall will be open for Obama inauguration

[December 05, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a change from tradition, the entire length of the National Mall will be open to the public during the upcoming presidential inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural committee announced Thursday.

The committee has pledged to make Obama's inauguration "the most open and accessible in history," allowing those who can't get the 240,000 tickets to the swearing-in ceremony on the Capitol grounds to fill the mall.

In the past, parts of the mall have been closed off as a parade staging area. The National Park Service has said jumbo TV screens will line the mall to give overflow crowds a glimpse of Obama's swearing-in.

Park Service officials have said they're expecting at least 1 million people for the inaugural, and the city has put the number as high as 5 million.

Also Thursday, the Newseum announced plans to offer visitors a warm viewing spot at the only museum located directly on the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route.

"We know not everyone coming to town is going to get an invitation to a ball," said Newseum spokeswoman Susan Bennett. "We hope we can accommodate a lot of people."

Advance tickets ($20 for adults and $13 for youth) will be sold on the Newseum's Web site.

[Associated Press; By BRETT ZONGKER]

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