The Sea Gull Century began in 1989 with less than 100 riders. It was originally hoted by the Salisbury State Cycling Club. The Century now accommodates roughly 7000 riders and has been nationally ranked. Proceeds from the Century are donated to various local organizations. Both 63-mile and 100-mile races have been offered in the past, along with minor races on the Friday afternoon before and the Sunday morning after the major race. The majority of the Sea Gull Century collection consists of publicity documents, including press releases and newspaper clippings. The collection also includes other documents including brochures, maps, patches, and photographs. Documents from other bike rallies hosted by Salisbury University, though not affiliated with the Sea Gull Century, are present in the collection. Such rallies include the 1988 GEAR UP Bike Convention and the 1989, 1992, 1993, and 1994 Bike Rallies hosted by Salisbury University. Press releases in many of the series were paired with their corresponding newspaper articles.

Originally hosted by the Salisbury State Cycling Club, the Sea Gull Century began in 1989 with less than 100 riders and open to only local club members. The Century has grown to accommodate roughly 7000 riders who come from all over the country, and even international regions. The Sea Gull Century has been a nationally ranked race in previous years.

Proceeds from the Century are donated to multiple organizations that have varied over the years. At one point the Century donated proceeds to the SSU Bicycle Club, SSU’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, and Helmets for Kids.

Both 63-mile and 100-mile races have been offered in the past, along with minor races on the Friday afternoon before and the Sunday morning after the major race. These minor races included scenic rides to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art as well as rides to restaurants including the Red Roost.

During the 1993 Sea Gull Century, a retired Washington D.C. police officer died during the race after colliding with a car.

Don McLean performed for the Sea Gull Century’s 10th Anniversary in 1998.

The majority of the Sea Gull Century collection consists of publicity documents, including press releases and newspaper clippings. The collection also includes other documents including brochures, maps, patches, and photographs. Documents from other bike rallies hosted by Salisbury University, though not affiliated with the Sea Gull Century, are present in the collection.

Press releases in many of the series were paired with their corresponding newspaper articles. The majority of the series contain similar folders including brochures, publicity, advertisements, contacts and personnel, correspondence, statistics, and travel. The advertisement folders have correspondence on advertising, checks and receipts for tabloid sales, tabloid rate cards, and advertisements that were in the Sea Gull Century’s tabloids. The contacts and personnel folder contains lists of contacts for local businesses, contacts for various newspapers, and personnel on the planning committee. The travel folder includes booklets on the surrounding area and places riders could visit when not participating in the Century. Many of the documents were previously paper-clipped together and can be located in folders that they do not correspond with. One example being statistics may be located in correspondence.

The first series includes a program for the 1988 GEAR UP Bike Convention in Pennsylvania along with two hand-written notes regarding the convention. The second series includes documents on the week-long 1989 Bike Rally held on Salisbury University’s campus. The third series contains only photos and correspondence for the 1990 Sea Gull Century. The fourth series contains press releases related to the 1991 Sea Gull Century. The fifth series includes brochures, press releases, newspapers, and correspondence surrounding the 1992 Sea Gull Century. The sixth and seventh series details the 1992 and 1993 Cycle Across Maryland events. The eighth series includes photos, the schedule of events surrounding the 1993 Sea Gull Century. The ninth series relates to the 1994 Cycle Across Maryland event. It includes the Rental Agreement, host information, and a schedule and map for the event. The tenth series includes maps, photos, registration forms, and information sheets. The eleventh series contains photographs and registration forms above related to the 1995 Sea Gull Century. The twelfth series includes maps, photos, and an information sheet handed out during the 1996 Sea Gull Century. The thirteenth series includes one of the Registration Forms for the 1997 Sea Gull Century. The fourteenth series contains information sheets for the 1998 Sea Gull Century. The fifteenth series contains all major folders, except for a travel folder, on the 1999 Sea Gull Century. The sixteenth series includes brochure for the 2008 Sea Gull Century. The seventeenth series contains information on the 2021 Sea Gull Century which could be completed in-person or virtually. The eighteenth series, Undated, includes two maps that are undated. These two maps were originally in a folder called “Bike Rallies 1993-94,” but it cannot be discerned as to whether they are from those two years.

Documents of the Sea Gull Century are arranged chronologically. While the original order was mostly arranged chronologically, some original folders were reorganized. There are 18 Series:

1. 1988 Bike Convention

2. 1989 Bike Rally

3. 1990 Sea Gull Century

4. 1991 Sea Gull Century

5. 1992 Sea Gull Century

6. 1992 Bike Rally

7. 1993 Bike Rally

8. 1993 Sea Gull Century

9. 1994 Bike Rally

10. 1994 Sea Gull Century

11. 1995 Sea Gull Century

12. 1996 Sea Gull Century

13. 1997 Sea Gull Century

14. 1998 Sea Gull Century

15. 1999 Sea Gull Century

16. 2008 Sea Gull Century

17. 2021 Sea Gull Century

18. Undated