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.

• Democratic National Convention Flashback
• Historic Photos of Denver

I'm excited to report I will be volunteering for the Democratic National Convention next week. I will be blogging about my experiences starting Saturday, Aug. 23. I'm on an on-call volunteer, so I will not know exactly what I will be doing until I report for duty on Saturday. Is anyone else volunteering for the convention? Share your experiences with the comments link below.

• Democratic National Convention FAQ

Even if you can't get a ticket to Obama's speech, you can still check out one of his platform goals of alternative energy. The Alliance Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) are all opening their doors to visitors during the week of the Democratic National Convention. The free tours will showcase Colorado's contributions to energy research. Register for the NREL and NWTC tours by Monday, Aug. 18 for a guaranteed spot.

• “Green” Tours of Denver During DNC

The New York Times ran a travel piece on Denver in the Sunday Times for East coast convention-goers. The author's assessment of the Mile High City? "You can practically see from one end to the other, it’s that flat." Hmm, last time I was in Manhattan, the island seemed pretty flat to me - oh wait, except it was clogged with thousands of people, who kept elbowing past me. However, my favorite part of the article is where the author advises out-of-towners to stock up on Western gear in order to blend with the natives. Yes, we won't know you're from out of town if you're decked out in Wranglers, a long-sleeved western shirt and cowboy boots in the middle of summer. No sirree.

• NY Times: 36 Hours in Denver