In the early days of the internet, before social media and minimalist web design, the Prep Website of 1996 was a product of its time. Today, our website serves as a tool to learn more about the school, check important dates, and provide helpful resources for the student body. Back then, the website sought to serve a similar purpose, but with some unique features that shows us how different the web once was.

The first thing visitors were greeted with upon typing in seaprep.org was its bold font choices, pixelated graphics, and busy layouts. Unlike today’s modern and interactive interface, the Prep Website was packed with links, buttons, and information, all displayed in a way that was unmistakably the creation of an early internet.

One of the most interesting features was the direct access to major news outlets right on the homepage. Users could quickly jump to real-time updates from CNN News Line, MSNBC News, CBS News, and ABC News with just a click. This was before everyone relied on apps or social media feeds for breaking news, so having these links all in one place felt revolutionary at the time.
The site also offered a virtual tour feature, which allowed users to explore photos of the campus. Though this feature no longer exists in the modern incarnation of our website, it was an early attempt to make learning about Prep more engaging and immersive.

Another aspect that made the Prep website different was that it required special applications to run properly. Today’s browsers support almost everything by default, but in 1996 you often needed to download additional software just to view certain parts of the website or navigate key features.

Perhaps the most unique part was the “Prep Search” engine, a custom search tool designed to help users find other websites. This was before Google became the dominant search engine, so having your own search tool with access to databases of helpful websites was convenient. In many ways, the Prep Website was ahead of its time.