Posted in Oregon March 02, 2021 by

2021 Marks The Centennial Of The Seaside Promenade In Oregon

If you’ve been to Seaside, Oregon, then you’ve probably visited the Promenade. The Historic Seaside Promenade (or “Prom,” as the locals lovingly call it) is a picture-perfect pathway along the shoreline of Seaside Beach. It was built in 1921, and celebrates its 100th birthday this year. The promenade has become a cultural touchstone for visitors and locals alike, and is a must-visit place in Seaside. So today we’re taking a walk down memory lane, in honor of the centennial of the Seaside Promenade.

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Seaside is a beach town located in the northwest part of the Oregon coast. It's a charming place that's filled with lots of history and small-town pride.
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This welcoming little coastal town is the perfect place to enjoy an Oregon beach day.
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A visit to Seaside is a bit like going back in time in the best possible way. The whole town feels very quaint and old-fashioned.
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Seaside has an old-school carousel where visitors can take a whirl.
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And at the beach, you'll find families flying kites and playing games, adding to Seaside's nostalgic charm.
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In Seaside, it doesn't get any more nostalgic than the eponymous Promenade.
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The Historic Seaside Promenade is 1.5 miles long, essentially spanning the length of the town.
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Along the Prom, you'll find the very best attractions in the area: lodging, dining, shopping, and the historic Seaside Aquarium.
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The Prom was built in 1921, and is an important part of Seaside history.
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The Seaside Promenade was the dream of Alexandre Gilbert, a French immigrant, real estate developer, and Mayor of Seaside from 1912-16.
Gilbert was also a visionary.
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He believed in the future of Seaside, and wanted to create something that would really set the town apart. So he donated land to the City of Seaside, to be used in the creation of the now-iconic promenade.
At the center of the Seaside Promenade is the Turnaround, a roundabout designed to turn traffic around when the street dead-ends at the ocean.
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This spot looks pretty much the same today as it did in 1921—albeit with one addition.
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The Turnaround just so happens to mark the end of Lewis and Clark's epic travels; and in 1990, a statue was added to commemorate the duo's historic journey.
YE T/TripAdvisor
This statue has become another must-visit attraction at the Seaside Promenade, and is a favorite place to take pictures and people watch.
The Seaside Promenade is a 1.5 mile boardwalk that's all about connections: it binds the town together, and is also a direct link to the past.
M.O. Stevens/Wikimedia Commons
It's really a metaphor for the town itself: historic, welcoming, and proud. And as the Seaside Promenade celebrates its centennial this year, we have a feeling Alexandre Gilbert would be very pleased.

For what it’s worth, Seaside Promenade: you don’t look a day over 60! This charming attraction is a fun and meaningful connection to the past, and we’re excited to celebrate the centennial of The Seaside Promenade this year!

If beautiful beach towns are your thing (Nancy Meyers fans, we’re talking to you!), then you’ll definitely want to check out these nine charming beach towns in Oregon.

Address: S Promenade, Seaside, OR 97138, USA