WASHINGTON (AP) - San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi made history today by becoming the first female Speaker of the House in U.S. history.

The 66-year-old Democrat was elected by a 233-to-202 partisan vote in the House of Representatives.

Minutes after she was elected, cheers erupted in the chamber as House Republican leader John Boehner handed her the speaker's gavel.

Standing on the House floor with her six grandchildren, Pelosi said her election marked a historic moment for women in U.S. history.

Among the onlookers in the packed visitors' galleries were actor Richard Gere and singer Tony Bennett.

Pelosi has represented San Francisco in Congress since 1987. The Italian-American mother of five was raised in Baltimore, where her father was that city's mayor.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)