Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse
photos by Linda Hudson
Patos Island, San Juan Islands, Washington
| Tours | Interpretive Center |
Overnight Stays |
Weddings | Giftshop | Fresnel Lens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Whale Museum | No | Yes | Yes | No |
About Lime Kiln Lighthouse
Named for the nearby ovens that turned limestone into lime in the 1860s, the Lime Kiln Lighthouse has stood watch from San Juan Island since 1914, and was the last major lighthouse built in Washington. Sitting on the rocky shoreline at a height of 55 feet, it was equipped with a fourth-order Fresnel lens in 1919, which operated until the lighthouse optic was automated in 1962.
Today, the beacon is visible for 17 miles, watching over the waterways of Haro Strait, a major shipping route that links Puget Sound to the Gulf of Georgia. Lime Kiln Point is a 36-acre, day-use park and is considered one of the best places in the world to view whales from a land-based facility. Orca whales are commonly seen from the lighthouse. Be sure to visit the Whale Museum, operated by the Friends of Lime Kiln Society (FOLKS).
Proceeds from the sale of Washington Lighthouse license plates have helped keep Lime Kiln Lighthouse shining with the following restoration projects:
- 2012 - Replacement of lighthouse steel entry door $4,300
Map & Directions
