The last time Denver hosted the Democratic National Convention was 100 years ago in 1908. Denver landmarks such as the Brown Palace and the State Capitol anchored downtown in 1908 as they do today, but a few other things have changed in the past century.
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In 2008, the Democratic National Convention will be held at the Pepsi Center.
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In 1908, Pepsi had only been invented six years earlier. The 1908 convention was held at the Municipal Auditorium (now the site of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.)
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In 2008, the mayor of Denver is John Hickenlooper. Nothing has been named after him yet.
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In 1908, the mayor of Denver was Robert Speer, the namesake of Speer Blvd.
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In 2008, Democratic nominee Barack Obama will be on hand to accept the nomination in person in a much-publicized speech at Invesco Field.
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In 1908, Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryant never appeared in person in Denver. He kept in touch through telegraph and telephone from his Nebraska home.
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In 2008, the United States of America consists of 50 states and the territory of Puerto Rico.
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In 1908, the United States of America consisted of 46 states. New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii and Alaska had not been established as states yet.
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In 2008, women and African-Americans have the right to vote across the United States.
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In 1908, women had the right to vote in four states, including Colorado, but national suffrage would not take be enacted until 1920. African-Americans technically had the right to vote since 1868, but were prevented from doing so by Jim Crow laws.
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In 2008, Hollywood movies generate millions of dollars a year. Both "Death Race," starring Jason Statham, and "The House Bunny," starring Anna Faris, open the week before the convention on Aug. 22, 2008.
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In 1908, the film industry was in its infancy with black and white short films without sound. "The Kentuckian," starring future filmmaker D.W. Griffith, was released during the 1908 Convention on July 7, 1908.
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In 2008, the best-selling book the week of Aug. 24, 2008 was the fantasy novel "Acheron" by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
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In 1908, Lucy Maude Montgomery published the beloved children's classic "Anne of Green Gables."
