On May 13, 1967, Oregon Gov. Tom McCall staged what today we would call a media stunt.

McCall flew into Cannon Beach in a helicopter with a group of surveyors and scientists, landing on a beach where there was a growing dispute over public access. The SurfSand Motel had used timber to cordon off a section of the beach, reserving it for the exclusive use of its guests. That ignited a public debate about who has the rights to Oregon beaches, and whether any portion of it could be privately owned.

Standing on the beach, looking over the cordoned-off section in front of the motel, McCall dug in his feet, declaring that Oregon beaches belonged to the people.

The Governor's line-in-the-sand stand led to the Legislature passing the Oregon Beach Bill later that year. The law placed the dry sand of the beach from the ocean's high-tide mark to the natural vegetation line in public ownership. The wet sand below high-tide had already been claimed as a public right of way back in 1913, when then-Gov. Oswald West made it a travel corridor for horses and autos.

Thomas "Tad" McCall, son of former Oregon Gov. Tom McCall.

On Saturday, exactly 50 years after McCall's trip to Cannon Beach, his son will help kick off the 50th anniversary celebration of the landmark bill at the site of the 1967 visit. Thomas "Tad" McCall will be joined by other state dignitaries for a daylong commemoration that will include sandcastle demonstrations, an art project unveiling, beach volleyball, and a beach bonfire on the beach in front of the SurfSand Resort, as it's now known.

The Beach Bill gave Oregonians ownership of the state's beaches, and that's a rare distinction. Only Hawaii has similar protection, and our unlimited access to the beach has made the Oregon Coast a big tourist destination.

The anniversary is a perfect excuse for a May visit to the Coast to drink in its splendor. On the north end, visitors can pose for a selfie in front of the wreck of the Peter Iredale at Fort Stevens State Park, near Warrenton. Heading south, there's the beauty of Rockaway Beach, the stellar views from Otter Crest, and the rocky majesty of the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor along the southern coast.

For a full list of activities related to the Beach Bill's anniversary this Saturday, visit the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce.

-- Grant Butler

503-221-8566; @grantbutler