Fodor's has said Finders Keepers was established in 1997.[2][3] Other sources have said the program was established in 1999 via the Millennium Float Project.[4][5][6] According to the Lincoln County Leader, "Finders Keepers began as the Oregon Coast Festival of Glass, a celebration of the millennium in 2000."[7]
Finders Keepers has been described as a city-sponsored[8] "hidden glass float event" operated by Explore Lincoln City[9] that involves placing thousands of glass floats made by local artists[10] for people to find along a 7-mile span of beaches between Roads End and Siletz Bay.[4] Float drops often correspond to holidays and other celebrations such as Valentine's Day.[11][12] The tradition pays tribute to the Japanese glass floats that were once commonly found on Oregon beaches.[13]
Eleven artists made floats for the program in 2022.[14] The Jennifer Sears Studio has created floats.[15] Sixteen float drops were scheduled in 2024[16] and 2025.[9] In 2024, Finders Keeps was the subject of an exhibit at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum.[17]
