Roche Harbor!

Roche Harbor
What is it? Roche Harbor Resort and its neighboring lime kilns!
What makes it historical? In 1845, the Hudson Bay Company first laid claim to San Juan Island right here at Roche Harbor, later named for Lieutenant Richard Roche, commander of the Royal Marines! It was Lieutenant Roche who first began the quarrying of limestone and the production of lime for making steel, plaster, cement and paper!

Nine years after Kaiser Wilhelm I gave the island to the United States, Robert and Richard Scurr started their own lime industry at Roche Harbor, which blossomed after John S. McMillin took over in 1886. Mr. McMillin built the amazing Hotel de Haro, named after the Spanish explorer who first sailed the strait along the island, then founded a company town around it! Roche Harbor became Washington’s largest lime processing operation!

HOW CAN I HELP KEEP IT HISTORICAL? IT’S EASY!

  • You can spend the night here!
  • You can become a member of the San Juan Historical Museum!
  • You can be a responsible visitor! That means respecting the signs and pathways and treating all structures and artifacts with respect! After all, they’ve endured a lot already to make it into the present! They’ll need our help to make it to the future!
How do I find it? 9323 Roche Harbor Rd
Friday Harbor, WA 98250

From Bellingham: ~72mi (116km) — 1.2hrs
From Olympia: ~175mi (282km) — 3hrs
From Seattle: ~113mi (182km) — 1.9hrs
From Spokane: ~361mi (581km) — 6.1hrs

When should I go? Whenever the mood strikes you!

Roche Harbor

Roche Harbor

Roche Harbor

Roche Harbor

Click here to see more sites on the National Register of Historic Places!

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