Photo by Eric Brady | The Roanoke Times

Michelle Willis-Turner (left), Gloria Tyler and Roma Willis-Turner watch Barack Obama on television at The Venue Grill and Lounge in Roanoke during a convention watch party Thursday evening.

Barack Obama accepted his nomination for president Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention and in doing so became the first black American to win a major party presidential nomination -- a milestone made even more notable by the fact that it coincided with the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington in 1963.

Thursday afternoon, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference held a ceremony to mark the anniversary of King's speech. About 30 people, including politicians of both major parties, gathered at the memorial to the slain civil rights activist at Henry Street and Center Avenue, where Leo Dow of Roanoke recited the speech from memory.

By the 8 p.m. start time for the convention, viewing parties began to kick into gear in most sectors of the city.

Obama supporters gathered around Roanoke to watch, to celebrate and to speculate.

Jay Plant, a field organizer for the Obama campaign, said he was not allowed to talk to members of the media, but confirmed that 11 house parties had been organized throughout the Roanoke area.

Obama campaign volunteer Mark Powell opened the doors of his Southeast Roanoke home and, by a little after 9 p.m., had about 30 guests.

"I had been an Obama supporter from the very beginning, but I thought he was a long shot," said Powell, who works for Yellow Cab.

"Although I'd voted for [Al] Gore and [John] Kerry in the last elections, this is the first time I've been so moved to volunteer," he said, calling it, "a big night, regardless of your political stripes."

Kory Epperly, 19, said he came to the party just to consider.

"I've got good enough reason not to vote for McCain, but I need a reason to vote for Obama," he said. "I'm not too in-depth on where he stands. But that's why I'm here."

Several dozen people gathered on the patio at Fork in the Alley restaurant in Southwest Roanoke to watch the convention, and many of them burst into applause when Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden referred to Obama as, "the next president of the United States."

Hank Bostick, a legal aid attorney and founder of the Roanoke chapter of the social-political group Drinking Liberally, said he felt the nomination "transcends party affiliation. Maybe it will put to rest some of our racial concerns and distrust."

"Next, I'd hope to see a female candidate," he added.

By 10 p.m., close to 50 people were seated in The Venue Grill and Lounge in Northwest Roanoke watching the video biography that preceded Obama's nomination acceptance speech.

"It's going to be awesome," said volunteer Gloria Tyler, excitedly.

Brenda Hale, a Roanoke activist and former president of the local NAACP chapter, sat with a 9-month-old she called "my grand-goddaughter," watching the proceedings.

"I am beyond ecstatic," Hale said. "I feel privileged to be a part of this historic moment. I've spoken so often to seniors 70 and above who thought they'd never live to see this day. I'm so happy to have the fruition of that take place right here, right now.

"You can't help but be happy today."

About 10:15 p.m., when Obama officially accepted the nomination, roughly half the people in the room leaped to their feet, clapping and cheering.

The rest of the crowd watched, too, obviously happy but also contemplative, and clearly waiting to see what would happen next.