Lime Kiln Point State Park’s iconic lighthouse
I’ve always thought that was a strange name for a state park. After all, not too many people may even know what a lime kiln is, let alone how they played a role in developing Washington’s history. As it turns out, the lime kilns on San Juan Island are significant for a number of reasons (which I’ve detailed in another blog post), but the site of the island’s lighthouse within the park makes it one of the most photographed locations in the state.
Lantern Press.
Washington State Parks.
Lantern Press.
The first lighthouse at that site was nothing more than an acetylene lamp atop a one-room structure built in 1914 that housed the fog signal. It was replaced five years later by a prismatic lens, which required a short tower to be built atop the structure. It was the last major lighthouse established in Washington state, and the last to be electrified as well.
In 1919, the Coast Guard installed a fourth-order Fresnel lens (pronounced “fruh-NELL” or sometimes “fray-NELL”) inside the 38-foot octagonal concrete tower. Themselves beautiful pieces of craftsmanship, Fresnel lenses are amazing works of art, some of which have been lovingly restored and put on display in maritime history museums around Washington. The Coast Guard replaced the lens in 1962 with photoelectric cells to turn the light on at dusk and off at sunrise. I’ve been told that the current location of the Fresnel lens is unknown (which is really a darn shame). Then, in 1998, a modern optical signal took its place atop the tower and has flashed white every ten seconds ever since. The beacon can be visible up to 15 nautical miles.
In addition to its interesting history, the sweeping views from the tower cover a range of about 210-degrees and the ocean sights are simply unbeatable. There are often resident and transient orcas passing through the waters just off shore, though the populations are in significant decline (you can learn more about that at the Center for Whale Research website). Now, not everyone gets to climb the lighthouse tower on every visit. The volunteer interpreters at the park do offer programs and tours, but times vary with volunteer availability, weather conditions, and COVID-related restrictions.
Once the Coast Guard no longer made use of the lighthouse and surrounding property, it made an agreement with Washington State Parks to manage the site. Parks, in turn, made an agreement with a nonprofit group called Friends of Lime Kiln Society (FOLKS), who took over as stewards of the property. You can learn more about that great organization at their website.
Here, I’ve juxtaposed an historic photo of the lighthouse during its construction with a photo from the same location taken during my recent trip. It’s pretty amazing to see the beginnings of a century-old structure alongside the final product.
No visit to San Juan Island should be considered complete without a visit to this historical maritime location. Visit Lime Kiln Point State Park, soak in the sights and sounds, and learn about why the lime kilns were important as well.