In 1921, hundreds of Oregonians gathered to open the Promenade, a 1.5-mile boardwalk that would become a staple of the North Coast. The mayor hoped the future would bring hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors. A hundred years later, that vision is reality. Coming amid a cautious recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the Aug. 7 celebration honoring the centennial anniversary will serve as an opportunity for locals to showcase their pride in what has become one of the most popular tourism destinations on the coast. “It’s the most important thing to the town,” said Laurie Mespelt, the executive director of the Seaside Downtown Development Association. “That is who we are, that Turnaround and the Promenade — it’s who we are and it’s what brings people here.” The Seaside Visitors Bureau has been promoting the anniversary throughout the year. Of the $400,000 budget the city receives to promote tourism, funded by local lodging taxes, Joshua Heineman, the director of tourism marketing for the visitors bureau, estimates the bulk of it went to promoting the anniversary. “Everything was pointed at the centennial,” he said. The primary component of the campaign is a 32-page booklet that can be picked up for free at the visitors bureau. The booklet, Heineman said, features scavenger hunts, stickers, entrances to sweepstakes and other ways for visitors to interact with the Prom. He recalls seeing a group of visitors from a recent event at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center out on the Prom following guides and activities in the book. “It was good to see people taking advantage of it and having a smile on their face as they look through the book and remember all the times they came here with their families and things like that,” he said. Evoking that sense of nostalgia, he said, is the biggest goal of the centennial. In a collaboration with the Seaside Museum & Historical Society, the Seaside Public Library has a collection of classic photos of the Prom over the years on display. “That’s the history right there,” Mespelt said. “It’s one thing to look at period pieces, but those are true snapshots.” A parade will showcase many of the businesses and organizations that have helped promote Seaside, such as the Rotary Club, representatives from the Miss Oregon pageant and Portland’s Royal Rosarians. Regional dignitaries, such as state Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, will make speeches commemorating the Prom just as Gov. Ben Olcott did a century ago. Later in the day, officials will bury a time capsule near the Turnaround to be opened in 2121. City Councilor Steve Wright, the president of the historical society, echoes the words of officials who commemorated the boardwalk and welcomed visitors a century before him. He hopes the Prom will forever remain a playground for the town and the Pacific Northwest as a whole. “It’s free, once you’re here. It’s an attraction. You don’t have to pay an annual pass for it, or pay for a daily. It’s just there to enjoy,” he said.

In 1921, hundreds of Oregonians gathered to open the Promenade, a 1.5-mile boardwalk that would become a staple of the North Coast. The mayor hoped the future would bring hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors.

A hundred years later, that vision is reality.

Coming amid a cautious recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the Aug. 7 celebration honoring the centennial anniversary will serve as an opportunity for locals to showcase their pride in what has become one of the most popular tourism destinations on the coast.

“It’s the most important thing to the town,” said Laurie Mespelt, the executive director of the Seaside Downtown Development Association. “That is who we are, that Turnaround and the Promenade — it’s who we are and it’s what brings people here.”

The Seaside Visitors Bureau has been promoting the anniversary throughout the year. Of the $400,000 budget the city receives to promote tourism, funded by local lodging taxes, Joshua Heineman, the director of tourism marketing for the visitors bureau, estimates the bulk of it went to promoting the anniversary.

“Everything was pointed at the centennial,” he said.

The primary component of the campaign is a 32-page booklet that can be picked up for free at the visitors bureau. The booklet, Heineman said, features scavenger hunts, stickers, entrances to sweepstakes and other ways for visitors to interact with the Prom.

He recalls seeing a group of visitors from a recent event at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center out on the Prom following guides and activities in the book. “It was good to see people taking advantage of it and having a smile on their face as they look through the book and remember all the times they came here with their families and things like that,” he said.

Evoking that sense of nostalgia, he said, is the biggest goal of the centennial. In a collaboration with the Seaside Museum & Historical Society, the Seaside Public Library has a collection of classic photos of the Prom over the years on display.

“That’s the history right there,” Mespelt said. “It’s one thing to look at period pieces, but those are true snapshots.”

A parade will showcase many of the businesses and organizations that have helped promote Seaside, such as the Rotary Club, representatives from the Miss Oregon pageant and Portland’s Royal Rosarians.

Regional dignitaries, such as state Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, will make speeches commemorating the Prom just as Gov. Ben Olcott did a century ago.

Later in the day, officials will bury a time capsule near the Turnaround to be opened in 2121.

City Councilor Steve Wright, the president of the historical society, echoes the words of officials who commemorated the boardwalk and welcomed visitors a century before him. He hopes the Prom will forever remain a playground for the town and the Pacific Northwest as a whole.

“It’s free, once you’re here. It’s an attraction. You don’t have to pay an annual pass for it, or pay for a daily. It’s just there to enjoy,” he said.