Lime Kiln Light, Maritime lighthouse in San Juan Island, Washington, US
Lime Kiln Light is a lighthouse on San Juan Island in Washington State, located on a rocky point overlooking the water. The structure features a white octagonal tower with a black lantern room and red roof, standing about 30 feet tall and clearly visible from the surrounding shoreline.
Construction took place between 1917 and 1919, making it the final major navigational light established in Washington State. A Fresnel lens inside the tower provided the light source that guided ships safely through the waterway.
The name comes from limestone quarries that operated in the 1800s, where workers produced lime for construction across the region. This heritage shaped how locals connect with this headland and its working waterfront character.
The light sends out regular white flashes that guide ships through the surrounding waterway with visibility extending many kilometers offshore. The location is accessible from the nearby shoreline, where visitors can view the exterior of the structure and the surrounding waters.
The location has become known to whale watchers because orca whales regularly pass through the surrounding waters. Scientists use the lighthouse grounds as a vantage point to observe and study these marine mammals.
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