Metro State starts series to highlight history of DNC

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DENVER – The 2008 Democratic National Convention will draw attention from around the world, but not everyone is familiar with the historical significance of an event that is coming to Colorado for the first time in 100 years.

"Generally, there is a concern that people are not remembering their history, said Gregorio Alcaro, producer with Auraria Casa Mayan Heritage.

Metropolitan State College is working with the non-profit, ACMH, and the Denver Municipal Band Quartet to kick off the Skyline Park Series with an historical look at the 1908 Denver DNC and how it shaped the city today.

"This event in 1908 probably changed the urban infrastructure as you see today, as we know it," said Alcaro. "This is a result of bringing the convention in."

Alcaro says much of downtown was shaped around the convention. He says it influenced streets, architecture, and led to the construction of the Denver Auditorium which now stands as the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

The Skyline Series started with a re-creation of speeches from 1908 Denver Mayor Robert Speer and 1908 Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan. The Denver Municipal Band performed music from that time including songs composed specifically for the 1908 Denver DNC.

"We don't want this to be a nostalgic trip. We don't want it to be sentimental. We're gonna have some very serious issues," said Alcaro.

He says the politics of 1908 is very parallel to politics today. The big issues back then were the environment, fair trade, war, and campaign election reform. Susan Atwood is with Legendary Ladies, a historical performance group. Atwood dressed in 1908 attire and tried to draw passers-by during their lunch breaks to the downtown event.

"A hundred years ago, almost to the very day, we were doing the very same thing here in Denver," said Atwood. "So, it's a bit of history we don't get to see often."

Jason Fickelle says it's important for people to stop and reflect about history even it's just for a few minutes on the way back to work. That's what he did.

"I thought it was very appropriate," said Fickelle. "For those who are involved who catch a whisper in the wind, (they) will be better informed for the next day to begin."

Metro State will hold an event every Wednesday at noon through Aug. 13 at Skyline Park near the corner of 16th Street Mall and Arapahoe in downtown Denver. Many of the presentations are run by Metro State professors.

- July 16 is entitled "Images of Women at the 1908 Democratic National Convention."

- July 23 is called "The Long Road to Freedom: The Issue of Race at the 2008 Democratic National Convention."

- July 30 is a named "Mayor Speer's Denver – An Historic Walking Tour."

- Aug. 6 is about "Coverage of Global Issues and the Group of Eight (G8) at the DNC."

- Aug. 13, the presentation is labeled "The Not-So-Simple Act of Voting."

Alcaro and his group ACMH are holding a separate, yet similar event on July 25 and 26 on the Auraria Campus called "Celebrate 1908" which will take an in-depth look at the impact of the 1908 convention on Denver especially in the former Auraria community.

"History is alive and we want to promote the spirit and the important of it," said Alcaro. "And, we want to make history relevant to the everyday person."